What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
In a case that has ignited a firestorm of local outrage and raised urgent questions regarding the protection of vulnerable children of religious minorities, authorities in Manikganj have arrested a 68-year-old man for the alleged serial sexual assault of a ninth-grade student.
The gravity of the crime came to a harrowing light only after the victim, a member of the local Hindu community, was discovered to be seven months pregnant months after she had been married into another family.
A targeted raid led by Sub-Inspector Enamul Ali Sardar in the Hangaj area of Saturia resulted in the apprehension of the suspect, identified as Md. Sakim Uddin on March 28th.
Uddin, a resident of Biswasbari village, is a local business owner who operates a sanitary shop near the victim’s home. The arrest followed a formal complaint lodged by the victim’s father, triggering a swift response from the Saturia police.
The details emerging from the investigation paint a chilling picture of exploitation. According to her family :
a) The assaults had allegedly occurred while the victim’s parents were away at work, leaving her vulnerable.
b) Md. Sakim Uddin reportedly used his position in the community and death threats to coerce the teenager into silence.
c) Fearing for her life, the victim did not report the abuse for months, carrying the trauma through her daily life and even into her recent marriage.
The crime remained hidden until the victim, who was married approximately two months ago, began suffering from health complications at her husband’s residence.
Upon returning to her paternal home for medical treatment, a physician’s examination revealed that the teenager was seven months pregnant. Confronted with the medical reality, the girl broke down and named Sakim Uddin as her abuser.
“We were devastated,” the victim’s father stated, his voice heavy with grief. “When we questioned her, she revealed that Sakim Uddin had repeatedly assaulted her by threatening her life. We demand the strictest possible punishment for this heinous act.”
Law enforcement has officially registered the case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, a stringent legal framework designed to handle high-gravity offenses against minors.
“Following the filing of the case, we moved swiftly to arrest the accused,” confirmed Sub-Inspector Sardar. “The legal process is currently underway, and the suspect will be presented before the court to face the full weight of these charges.”
The case has drawn the attention of human rights advocates and community leaders across the Manikganj district. There are growing calls for:
A Fast-Track Trial: To prevent the case from languishing in the legal system and to provide the victim with closure.
Protection for the Victim: Ensuring the safety and psychological support of the minor as she navigates the dual trauma of the assault and the complications of her pregnancy.
As the suspect awaits his day in court, the local community remains on edge, viewing this case as a litmus test for the region’s ability to protect its children from those who leverage age and influence to commit such atrocities.
Reported by: Aditi Chakraborty
