Fierce Protests In Bangladesh After 8-Year-Old Rape Victim Dies, Mob Sets Accused's House On Fire

An eight-year-old girl died after she was raped in the city of Magura in Bangaldesh setting off fierce protests.

An eight-year-old girl who was raped died on Thursday in Bangladesh setting off fierce protests. (Representational Image)

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Bangladesh has been once again rocked by fierce protests after an eight-year-old child who was raped succumbed to her injuries. 

The girl was raped while she was visiting her elder sister's house in Magura city, on the intervening night of March 5 and 6, as per the case filed by her mother, reported BBC. 

The elder sister's 18-year-old husband, his parents and brother have been arrested and placed on remand in connection with the case. 

The girl died on Thursday at about 7 pm (local time) after suffering three cardiac arrests, according to a statement by the government's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) department.

"Although doctors managed to stabilise the condition twice, the heart failed to restart after the third episode," the statement said.

Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over the incident and instructed the authorities to bring the culprits to jsutice without delay, reported The Daily Star. 

'Would Never Have Let Her Go Alone'

The victim's inconsolable 
mother said she thought her daughter would survive. "If she had made it through, I would never have let her go anywhere alone again," she said according to local media reports. 

The girl's body was flown back to Magura from the Combined Military Hospital in the capital Dhaka, where she was being treated. The army helicopter in which she was taken back landed at the local stadium around 6 pm (local time) to fierce protests. 

Thousands of people gathered in the public square in Magura for the girl's namaz-e-janaza, the Islamic funeral prayer, before she was laid to rest at 7:30 pm. 

Protestors Hit Streets 

Following the news of the child's death, an angry mob descended on the house where the incident is alleged to have taken place. The mob set the place on fire. 

In Dhaka University, in the national capital, an absentee funeral was held by the protestors followed by a protest march and speeches by female students. 

Many demonstrators demanded that the government expedite justice for rape victims and reform laws related to women's and children's safety.

They also called for greater clarity around the legal definition of what constitutes rape in Bangladesh, which they said was currently ambiguous.