Tuesday, 22 Sep 2026
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CHT Issues May 24, 2026

Jumma school girl attempted to rape by a Bengali settler in Bilaichari

Hill Voice, 24 May 2026, Rangamati: It has been reported that a 12-year-old Jumma school girl studying in 9th grade was the victim of an attempted rape by a Bengali settler in the Hospital Ghat area of Bilaichari Sadar Upazila under Rangamati district at around 4 PM on Saturday, 23 April.

The attempted rapist was identified as Abdul Gafur Sheikh (62). He is reported to be a Bengali settler who came from the plainlands of the country and is currently residing in the area called Gach Kata Chara in Bilaichari Upazila.

According to sources, yesterday afternoon the victim student was returning home after private tuition. On the way, finding her alone on the road, the accused rapist Abdul Gafur Sheikh began calling her with various obscene and offensive gestures. Later, sensing the lecherous Gafur’s intent and the danger, the school girl tried to quickly flee the place in fear. At that time, the accused Abdul Gafur Sheikh also chased her from behind. Later, when the victim student informed local people present at a shop owned by a man named Manik about the incident, those at the shop caught the accused settler Abdul Gafur Sheikh red-handed.

According to reliable local sources, when people were taking the accused settler to Bilaichari Police Station, a group of army personnel from the Gach Kata Chara army camp under 32 BIR Bilachari Army Zone stopped them there, instructed them not to take him to the police station, and ordered them to take him to Ramacharan Marma (Russell), Chairman of Kengrachari Union Parishad. They also directed that the trial process be conducted at a temporary army camp in the old building of the Bilaichari Upazila Health Complex.

Later, the trial process was conducted in the presence of Kengrachari Union Parishad Chairman Ramacharan Marma (Russell), Kengrachhari Union Ward No. 1 Member Mohammad Rabiul, Kengrachari Union Ward No. 7 Member Dayaranjan Chakma, agent of DGFI, DS branch of the police station, and several army personnel.

There, a written undertaking was taken from the accused settler Abdul Gafur Sheikh, and he was released without charge on the decision that he would not commit such acts in the future and would not enter the said area.

However, there is extreme anger among locals regarding the role of the Chairman and the army in this matter. Some believe that because the accused settler was not taken to the police station and this type of trial process was carried out instead, the accused are being released without punishment. As a result, perpetrators are emboldened to commit such heinous acts.

It is worth noting that Kengrachari Union Parishad Chairman Ramacharan Marma (Russell) was the chairman during the previous Awami League tenure. It is reported that he gave permission to set up a temporary army camp in the old building of the Bilaichari Upazila Health Complex.