Rape victim Magura girl loses battle for life

The eight-year-old girl, who was raped while visiting her sister's house in Magura, died at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Dhaka on Thursday, leaving her family and the entire nation in grief.

She died at 1:00pm and was buried hours after her body was brought to Magura stadium by a helicopter around 5:15pm.

Her namaz-e-janaza was held after Maghrib prayers at Magura Nomani Maidan around 7:00pm. People from all walks of life participated in the prayer.

She was buried at her village home in Jaria of Sreepur upazila.

As the news of her death spread, angry people set the house of the prime accused on fire in a village in Magura Sadar upazila in the evening.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus expressed deep shock at her death and ordered the perpetrators be brought to justice quickly.

The child's mother spoke to the media after her death. She said, "My minor daughter was killed, and she suffered a lot. I want justice."

Earlier, a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said despite receiving advanced medical care and the best efforts of specialists, it was not possible to save the girl.

The child suffered a cardiac arrest thrice on Thursday morning and was stabilised twice, but her heartbeat did not return the third time, it said.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul at a briefing at his ministry on Thursday said the trial of the child's rape and abuse would begin within seven days, adding the case would proceed at the maximum pace.

He also said DNA samples have been collected and the report would be available within five days.

Citing examples from the past, the adviser said there are precedents for completing rape trials within seven to eight days.

"This time too, it will be possible to start the trial within seven days. If this can be done, the judges will be able to ensure justice quickly," he said.

Nazrul also said, "Even though the trial will start within seven days, I cannot say how many days it will take to be completed."

He said they are making a new law.

"It is expected to be made on Sunday or Monday. A special tribunal will be formed to try cases of child rape and rape as per the women and children repression prevention act."

Nazrul said the gazette of the tribunal would be published by next Sunday.

"We have a strong hatred for rapists. We are aggrieved and shocked. We are taking all kinds of measures. If you have any suggestions, let us know. But if anyone wants to destabilise the situation by keeping this issue in mind, we will keep an eye on them," he warned.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said the investigation into the case would be completed as soon as possible.

Earlier on March 6, the child was raped while visiting her sister's house in Magura town. The next day, she was admitted to the Magura 250-bed hospital.

When her condition deteriorated, she was sent to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for better treatment in the afternoon. From there, she was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

She was put on life support on Friday night at DMCH. The critically injured child was transferred to CMH Dhaka on Saturday evening where she breathed her last after fighting for her life for five days.

Expressing deep sorrow over her death, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday demanded exemplary punishment for the "monsters who raped and killed the little girl".

In a condolence message issued by BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan shortly after her death was reported, Fakhrul said, "An innocent child was subjected to the cruelty of a few monsters in Magura."

"How much she struggled with the scars on her body in the hospital bed, leaving behind the illusion of this world, leaving us in shame and tears, is beyond the capacity of words to express," he said.

He prayed for the peace of her departed soul and expressed his deepest sympathy for the grieving family.

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