14-year-old girl reportedly raped after meeting youth from TikTok in Shariatpur

A 14-year-old girl from Naria upazila in Shariatpur developed a romantic relationship with a young man through regular communication on IMO after they met on social media platform TikTok. Later, when she went to meet him, a 21-year-old youth allegedly took her away by force and raped her.

In this incident, the teenager's mother filed a case with the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. The accused youth is Raju Gazi (21), son of Sultan Gazi of Charvaga Shanikandi village in Sakhipur Police Station of Shariatpur.

According to the case's First Information Report (FIR) and conversations with the victim's family, the teenager from Purba Dinara village in Naria came to know Raju Gazi through TikTok about three months ago. Later, when they began communicating regularly on IMO, a romantic relationship developed between them at one point.

The FIR alleged that on September 21, the teenager went to the Dingamanik Golarmath area of Naria to meet Raju. There, Raju forcibly put her on a motorcycle and took her to his home in Sakhipur. The case alleged that she was kept confined there for a day and raped against her will.

The FIR stated that the next day, the teenager was taken to Dhaka by showing her the lure of marriage. The victim alleged that she was kept confined in a residential hotel there and raped multiple times.

Later, when the teenager asked Raju to sign a marriage contract (kabin-nama), she was brought back to the area. The FIR stated that Raju then left her on a road beside her home and went away.

When the incident became known, members of the victim's family tried to resolve the matter through local elders and dignitaries. As no resolution was reached there, they contacted the accused's family. The family claimed Raju did not agree to the marriage. The family also alleged that they were threatened with killing the teenager and making her body disappear if a case was filed or if the matter was escalated.

According to the victim's family, when they went to Sakhipur Police Station for legal assistance, they were advised to file a case with the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. Later, on September 22, the victim's mother filed a case with the tribunal following legal procedures.

When attempts were made to contact members of Raju Gazi's family at his home to learn about the allegations, they were unwilling to make any statement. The victim's family also alleged that they were subjected to rude behaviour and threats by journalists.

Sakhipur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mofazzal Hossain said multiple police teams are working to arrest the accused as per the court's directive. Legal procedures are ongoing.