A bizarre and widely condemned form of “justice” has been meted out in a village in Mohadevpur upazila, Naogaon, where a man accused of attempting to rape a sixth-grade student was punished with a single slap from his own brother in a local arbitration meeting. The incident has triggered significant outrage among local residents.
The alleged crime took place on Tuesday, September 16, around 4:30 PM in the village of Chakchaki Durgapur. The accused has been identified as Abu Sayeed, 45.
According to local sources, the student was alone at home when her neighbor, Abu Sayeed, allegedly entered the house. He reportedly tried to lure her with various temptations before attempting to sexually assault her. The girl’s screams alerted a female neighbor, who witnessed the event, causing Sayeed to flee the scene immediately.
Later that evening, around 10:30 PM, a group of influential local figures convened a shalish, or village arbitration, at the residence of a local dental practitioner, Saiful Islam. Instead of addressing the gravity of the crime, the council, which included the accused’s brother Abdur Rahim and local leaders Hasan, Anwar, and a female leader named Sahida, delivered a shocking verdict.
Abu Sayeed’s elder brother was instructed to slap him once. This act was declared the official punishment, and the two parties were then made to embrace, effectively closing the matter.
The attempt to dismiss such a serious allegation in this manner has been met with fierce condemnation from conscious locals. “A heinous crime like attempted rape cannot be settled in a village council. The perpetrator must be brought under the law and face strict punishment,” one resident commented.
The victim’s mother told reporters that her family is afraid to file a formal police case due to the influence wielded by the accused’s family. She also revealed that they are in a state of extreme financial distress, which adds to their vulnerability.
When contacted, Shahin Reza, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mohadevpur Police Station, stated, “We have not yet received a written complaint. If a complaint is filed, we will launch an investigation and take necessary legal action. An offense of this nature will not be tolerated.”
