Testimony Begins in Baklia Child Rape Case Trial

Testimony has begun in the widely discussed rape case of a four-year-old child in the Baklia area of Chattogram. The victim’s father, who is the plaintiff in the case, was the first to testify before Judge Syeda Hafsa Jhuma at the Chattogram Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal at 11:00 am on Wednesday (June 10).

The sole accused, 30-year-old Monir Hossain, was present in the courtroom. According to Public Prosecutor (PP) Mahmud-ul Alam Chowdhury Maruf, nine out of the 13 witnesses named in the charge sheet appeared in court on the first day.

The charge sheet, submitted to the court on June 4, indicted Monir under Section 9(1) of the Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act. Police confirmed that the charges rely on strong forensic and documentary evidence, including medical and DNA reports, witness testimonies, and the accused's own confessional statement.

The Incident and Investigation The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 21 in a warehouse near Balurmat in the Nur Hossain Chairmanghata area of Baklia. Following the father's formal complaint, Investigating Officer Inspector Tanvir Ahmed collected DNA samples, medical records, and witness statements.

Monir, originally from Muradnagar in Cumilla and residing in Miakhan Nagar, Baklia, was arrested the day after the incident. He later gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The child's statement was also recorded under Section 22 of the Act.

Mob Violence During Arrest The arrest sparked severe unrest in the area. When police attempted to transport the accused to the station, a mob obstructed them, hurling bricks and eventually vandalizing and setting fire to police vehicles. Several police officers and journalists were injured and required hospital treatment.

In response to the violence, Chaktai Police Outpost In-Charge Mobarak Hossain filed a separate case, implicating 58 named individuals and up to 500 unidentified suspects.