A teenage girl was allegedly gang raped in a secluded area in Bangladesh by her boyfriend and three of his friends, while a fifth man stood guard. Police have made one arrest and are pursuing the other suspects.
The victim, a Class 10 pupil aged between 15 and 16, was lured to a spot in the Lalmai Hills in Comilla on Saturday night (August 29), according to local media reports. Sources told The Business Standard that the four friends were waiting for the girl and her boyfriend to arrive before the alleged assault.
Investigation underway after arrest
Local police learned of the alleged gang rape and have arrested one man. Superintendent Mohammad Anisuzzaman said the girl was taken to hospital and an investigation is underway. He added that detectives are working to arrest the four other suspects and that more details will emerge after the girl's medical examination.
Locals intervene as suspect flees
Locals said the youngster was in a relationship with a young man. Bangladeshi media report that people in the area grew suspicious when they spotted the men and the girl on Sunday morning. Four of the men allegedly fled, but locals managed to prevent a 20-year-old man from escaping, according to The Business Standard.
Rising figures on sexual violence
Sexual violence has been escalating in Bangladesh, where 786 women and girls were victims of rape and gang rape last year. The figure from NGO Bangladesh Mahila Parishad represents a 52.3% rise on the 516 cases recorded in 2024. Of the 2025 total, 543 were girls, according to data reported by the Dhaka Tribune.
Bangladesh's figures are dwarfed by UK data showing 71,227 rapes recorded by police in 2024. A report by Human Rights Watch found gender-based violence in Bangladesh increased last year compared to 2024. Rights groups are reported to have warned that without reforms, accountability and social change, the scale of violence recorded in 2025 risks becoming entrenched.
