Youth arrested for allegedly raping 5-year-old on boat in Mymensingh

A young man has been arrested for allegedly raping a five-year-old child after taking her for a boat ride in Nandail, Mymensingh. The accused was detained on Sunday night with the help of local residents.

The accused, Mohammad Mostafa, a fish seller, is a resident of a village in Nandail upazila.

According to police and the child's family, Mostafa took the child on a boat on the Narasunda river around 12:30 pm on Sunday while her mother was at a neighbour's house for work. The child returned home crying, after which the mother learned of the incident.

The family first tried to keep the matter quiet, but took the child to the upazila health complex when her condition deteriorated in the evening. She was later referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Doctors at Nandail Upazila Health Complex confirmed the child had been sexually assaulted.

After the incident became known, locals helped police arrest Mostafa on Sunday night. On Monday morning, locals demanded severe punishment for the accused. The child's father filed a written complaint at the police station in the afternoon.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Ashraful Karim said a case was being prepared, and the accused would be produced in court after the case was filed.