In the case of the rape of a five-year-old child in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, the convicted accused, Saiful Islam, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, was arrested on Monday at 2:30 PM.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13 detained him from a relative’s house in Badarganj upazila, Rangpur.
RAB-13 Dinajpur Company Commander Mahidul Islam confirmed the arrest to Prothom Alo.
Eight and a half years ago, Saiful Islam raped the child in Dinajpur, mutilating her private parts. As a result, the victim’s bladder was severely damaged.
Despite multiple surgeries, she still suffers from urinary incontinence. The child is now 13 years old.
Earlier, after serving eight years and four months in prison, Saiful Islam was released on bail on February 19. The bail granted to a convict serving a life sentence sparked outrage among women and child rights activists.
Amid this situation, the state filed an appeal to the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division seeking cancellation of the bail.
On March 5, after hearing the petition, the court stayed the bail order issued by the High Court for eight weeks and directed the arrest of the accused.
Prothom Alo had reported this yesterday under the headline, "Bail stayed for Dinajpur child rape convict; reports of accused fleeing the area."
Previously, on February 27, Prothom Alo published a report titled "How did a lifer get bail?"—anguish of the rape survivor’s father, covering the accused’s release on bail.
The RAB-13 company commander told Prothom Alo that after seeing the newspaper’s report, RAB-13, with the assistance of RAB headquarters’ intelligence wing, arrested the accused.
He will be handed over to Dinajpur police. When asked, the commander said Saiful Islam was preparing documents to flee to India.
On October 18, 2016, the child went missing while playing with a neighbor’s daughter of the same age.
The next day, she was found near her home in a critical condition, with sharp weapon wounds on her private parts, head, neck, hands, and legs, as well as cigarette burn marks on her thighs.
Her father filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act on October 20 that year. Police arrested neighbor Saiful Islam as the prime suspect shortly after the incident.
The case gained significant media attention. The court found Saiful guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
After eight years and four months, Saiful was released on bail from Dinajpur District Jail on February 19.
According to documents submitted to the Dinajpur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, the High Court granted Saiful’s bail petition on January 28.
The victim’s father expressed satisfaction over the arrest, telling Prothom Alo that he was "very happy" with RAB’s swift action.
He said the family had been living in insecurity since the accused was released on bail, but now they feel relieved. He added, "Now, I want the life sentence to be enforced."
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