Netrakona Correspondent
The Netrakona District Committee of the Oppressed Women and Children Legal and Health Support Cell held a press conference demanding the arrest and maximum punishment of the accused rapist in the case of a 12-year-old girl who was found alone at home in Atpara Upazila of the district. The Netrokona District Oppressed Women and Children Legal and Health Support Cell organized this press conference at the District Press Club Auditorium on Wednesday night at around 8:30 pm. Advocate Dr. Arif Jasmine Nahin, coordinator of Netrokona District Committee and member of BNP Central Executive Committee, and Advocate Masud Rana Chowdhury, coordinator and general secretary of the District Bar Association, addressed the press conference. At that time, the leaders said that after the incident was published in the media, the matter came to the attention of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. He immediately directed the Abused Women and Children Legal and Health Support Cell to provide the abused child with free necessary legal and health support, as well as social rehabilitation and security. Immediately after receiving the order, a team led by BNP Central Executive Committee member Advocate Dr. Arifa Jasmine Nahin, coordinator of the Netrokona cell, went to the hospital to provide legal and health assistance to the victim and financial assistance and social security to the impoverished family. At the press conference, they demanded the rapist be arrested immediately and given the maximum punishment. On Tuesday, April 8, at around 7:30 pm, the child was raped by 19-year-old Antar Mia of Narachatal village in Atpara upazila. Police and the child’s relatives said that the young man forcibly raped the child after finding her alone at home in the evening. When the child resisted, he was beaten up. At that time, the people around him came forward to hear the child’s screams, and the rapist fled. Later, around 1 am, the child was taken to Atpara Upazila Health Complex, where he was given primary treatment and then sent to Netrokona Sadar Hospital. He was sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment on Wednesday morning. The child has been receiving treatment in the hospital since then. Pradeep Kumar, police inspector (investigation) of Atpara police station, said that a drive is being conducted to arrest the youth involved in the rape incident.