Dhaka: A 44-year-old Hindu widow was allegedly gang-raped and brutally assaulted in Bangladesh’s Jhenaidah district, in an incident that has once again drawn attention to the safety of religious minorities in the country. The crime occurred in the Kaliganj area, where the woman lives with her 10-year-old son. Police have arrested one accused while efforts are underway to apprehend others involved in the case.
According to the police complaint filed on Monday afternoon at the Kaliganj police station, the woman was assaulted by at least four men. One of the accused, identified as Hasan, aged 45, has been taken into custody. The remaining accused are absconding, and police raids are ongoing to trace them.
As per police officials and local residents, the victim had purchased a house and a piece of land in the village around two years ago. The land was bought from the brother of one of the accused, identified as Shaheen. Since the transaction, Shaheen had allegedly been harassing the woman and demanding money from her, creating a prolonged dispute.
The incident reportedly took place on Saturday evening when two male relatives of the woman visited her residence. Shaheen and Hasan allegedly forced their way into the house, locked the relatives in one room, and dragged the woman into another room where she was raped. Following the assault, the accused allegedly cut the woman’s hair, beat her severely, tied her to a tree along with her relatives, and accused them of engaging in obscene activities. A video of the assault was also allegedly recorded on a mobile phone.
Local residents found the woman in a critical condition later that night and rushed her to a hospital in the Kaliganj area. Due to the severity of her injuries and the need for medical treatment, there was a delay in filing the police complaint. The woman is currently undergoing treatment, and her condition is reported to be stable.
Kaliganj police station officer-in-charge Jailal Hussain confirmed that the delay in registering the case was due to the victim’s hospitalization. “One accused has been arrested, and raids are being conducted to arrest the remaining suspects. Legal proceedings are underway, and we are committed to ensuring justice,” he said.
The incident comes amid a troubling series of attacks and murders targeting members of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. Over the past three weeks, at least four Hindus have reportedly been killed in separate incidents across the country. On Monday evening, a Hindu businessman, Rana Pratap Bairagi (38), was shot dead in the Kopalia market area of Jessore district. Earlier incidents include the killing of Deepu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on December 18 following a false accusation of blasphemy, the mob lynching of a Hindu youth named Amrit Mandal on December 24, and the murder of Brajendar Biswas, on December 29, reportedly linked to extortion.
Human rights activists and minority rights groups have expressed grave concern over the pattern of violence, urging Bangladeshi authorities to take stronger measures to protect vulnerable communities and ensure swift justice in such cases.
