One held for raping fifth grader

Police yesterday arrested a man for allegedly raping a fifth grader in Mymensingh, while another was sued for attempted rape in Jashore.

The arrestee is Zilhaj Mia alias Dilu, 30, of Gafargaon upazila in Mymensingh.

The 13-year-old girl was alone at her home on Monday evening when Dilu forcibly entered the house, tied her hands and legs, and then raped her, police quoted the victim’s family as saying.

When the girl started screaming, her neighbours rushed there and rescued her. But Dilu managed to flee.

Later that night, the victim’s mother filed a rape case against Dilu with Pagla Police Station of Gafargaon.

Police held Dilu around 11:00am yesterday and the girl was sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for medical tests, said Md Shahinuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Pagla Police Station.

In Jashore’s Sharsha, the father of a nine-year-old girl yesterday lodged a case against his neighbour for attempting to rape his daughter.

The accused is Abdul Hamid, 40.

The girl’s mother said her daughter was playing in front of their home on Tuesday afternoon. Hamid, luring her with sweets, took her to his home and tried to violate her in his empty house.

When the girl started screaming, her family members rushed there and rescued her. But Hamid fled.

Talking to The Daily Star, Sukhdeb Roy, officer-in-charge of Bagachhra police outpost, said they were trying to arrest Hamid.

Our Mymensingh and Benapole correspondents contributed to this report.