AL man held for rape attempt to Dhaka schoolgirl

A ward-level Awami League (AL) leader was arrested for his alleged attempt to rape a 10th-grader in Sabujbagh area of Dhaka this afternoon.

The arrestee Masud Parvez Akanda, 45, is general secretary of Ward No. 5 and a member of managing committee of a school in Basabo area, police said.

The victim filed a case with Sabujbagh Police Station against the Awami League leader, Abdul Kuddus Fakir, officer-in-charge of Sabujbagh Police Station told The Daily Star.

According to police and locals, Masud called the girl, also a student of the school, at his office on March 13 in the name of giving her exam suggestions.

As she met Masud, he swooped on her in a bid to rape her but the victim managed to escape the spot, police said quoting the case statement.

Protesting the incident, students and locals formed a human chain in front of the school.

The educational institute's principal demanded punishment through fair investigation into the incident.