Fierce protests as eight-year-old rape victim dies in Bangladesh

An eight-year-old girl who was raped in Bangladesh passed away from her injuries on Thursday, triggering intense protests nationwide. According to a complaint made by her mother, the girl was assaulted while staying at her older sister’s home in Magura sometime between the night of March 5 and the next morning.

The 18-year-old husband of the elder sister, together with his brother and parents, was arrested and taken into custody. On Thursday night, following the news of the child’s passing, an enraged crowd gathered at the residence where the event is said to have occurred, igniting it in flames.

The girl passed away around 13:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Thursday following three cardiac arrests, as stated by the government’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) department.

“Although doctors managed to stabilize the condition twice, the heart failed to restart after the third episode,” the statement said.

She had spent six days in a critical condition at the Combined Military Hospital in the capital Dhaka, after being admitted on 8 March. “I thought my daughter would survive,” her mother said following the girl’s death, according to local media. “If she had made it through, I would never have let her go anywhere alone again.”

The girl’s body was transported to Magura via an army helicopter, which arrived at the local stadium around 18:00 amidst intense protests. Aiyub Ali, the officer-in-charge of the Magura Sadar Police Station, stated that officials faced difficulties in managing the situation, as reported by the local news source.

Thousands assembled in the public square of Magura for the girl’s namaz-e-janaza, the Islamic funeral prayer, before her burial at 19:30. An absent funeral was also conducted for her at Dhaka University in the capital, accompanied by a protest march and addresses from female students.

Numerous demonstrators called for the government to hasten justice for victims of rape and to reform laws concerning the safety of women and children. Demonstrators also demanded more clarity regarding the legal definitions of what defines rape in Bangladesh, asserting that they are currently unclear. The legal advisor Asif Nazrul stated that the trial for the rape and murder case is anticipated to start in the coming seven days.

“DNA sample collection has been completed, we hope to get the report within the next five days,” Mr Nazrul told a press briefing at the Secretariat on Thursday – adding that statements had already been taken from 12 to 13 people.

“If we can start the trial within seven days, our judges will be able to ensure justice with the utmost speed,” he added.