A 17-year-old girl from Sylhet has allegedly been raped after being lured to Sunamganj with promises of marriage following a relationship that began on Facebook.
Police from Sunamganj Sadar Model Police Station arrested three suspects on Thursday (March 5) from Bishwambharpur Upazila in connection with the incident. A CNG-run auto-rickshaw allegedly used in the crime was also seized.
According to police, the victim from Bishwanath Upazila became acquainted with a young man from Sunamganj through Facebook about four months ago, and the relationship later developed into a romantic one. The girl later traveled to Sunamganj, but the accused allegedly refused to marry her and instead left her with his friend Sohail, a CNG auto-rickshaw driver.
Although the victim’s family initially brought her back home, she later returned to Sunamganj after Sohail reportedly promised marriage. Police say Sohail kept her confined at his house for about two weeks and repeatedly assaulted her.
On March 1, following an argument between the victim and Sohail’s mother, she was taken to a house in Sunamganj town while Sohail left for Sylhet. When the girl asked to return home, two of Sohail’s friends—Ershad and Masum—offered to drop her off and placed her in a CNG auto-rickshaw.
Police allege that the suspects then took her to a secluded location in the Palash area of Bishwambharpur Upazila, where she was gang-raped inside the vehicle.
Officer-in-Charge Ratan Sheikh of Sunamganj Sadar Model Police Station said police arrested the three suspects within 24 hours of learning about the incident. Authorities are trying to contact the victim’s family and are providing medical and legal assistance.
He added that investigators are collecting evidence with the highest level of professionalism to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible.
