Boy beaten mercilessly

Despite a huge public outcry, the number of children torutured and killed is getting bigger with nine-year-old Habibur Rahman of Moulvibazar becoming the latest victim.

The boy was tied to a pillar and beaten up because he "stole" a bamboo from the garden of neighbour Al-Amin, 45, in Nityanandapur village of Kamalganj upazila on October 16.

Al Amin, who is now in hiding, said the boy "stole" the bamboo to make a fishing rod.

He admitted tying him to the pillar but denied the allegation of beating.

Delwar Hosain, the father of the boy, who studies in class IV in a non-government school, said, "They took my son's clothes off and beat him."

He also alleged that Al Amin threatened him with dire consequences if he disclosed the incident to anyone.

Delwar said the surprising thing was police initially did not take any action.

The day after the incident, he informed Shamsernagar Union Parishad (UP) of the beating for arbitration, said Tajud Ali, a member of the UP.

Later, on October 20, Delwar filed a petition to the UP chairman seeking mediation.

But Al Amin never appeared at the UP, said Chairman Jewel Ahmed.

Delwar then filed a case against him yesterday.

Enamul Haque, officer-in-charge of Kamalganj Police Station, confirmed to The Daily Star that the boy was beaten, and said the assaulter was now in hiding.

The issue of child abuse came into limelight after Samiul Islam Rajon, 13, was beaten to death over an allegation of theft in Sylhet city in July.

Two more were killed the next month -- Rakib, 12, in Khulna on August 3, and Rabiul, 10, in Barguna on August 5.