Childbirth resulting from rape: Victim's family ostracized

The family of a teenage girl in Fulgazi upazila of Feni district has been ostracized after she gave birth to a baby as a result of rape.

The victim's family alleged that police constable Towhidul Islam Shawon developed an affair with the teenage girl around a year ago.

One day he raped her after making her unconscious by feeding sedative pills.

They also said she on February 12 gave birth to a baby. Then, they made a proposal to the cop to marry her as the news spread but he refused to do so.

On February 19, the local headmen in an arbitration allegedly decided to ostracize her family instead of taking measures against the rapist.

Being compelled, the victim's family filed a case against Shawon on February 26.

After the case filling, the accused was arrested from his current workplace in Rangamati and sent him to jail following a court order.

About the ostracizm, local headman Kamrul Master said they took the decision because the girl is not married and gave birth to a baby due to an illicit affair. 

"This is not my unilateral decision. All of the attendees at that arbitration agreed to it," he added.

The victim's father said none of the locality talks to us following the ostracizm. "Now we are leading an inhuman life," he said. 

In this regard, Fulgazi Police Station officer in-charge Kutub Uddin said they were not informed about the ostracism.

Legal action would be taken against those who are responsible if the matter is true, the OC added.

SJ/SU