Our Correspondent :
Three hours later a trawler rescued the girl, as the launch she was in left her without rescuing her
A 16-year-old girl jumped in the Meghna River reportedly to save herself from sexual assault in a launch when she was travelling through Bhuiyan village region under Tazumuddin upazila in Bhola.
The incident took place on Saturday evening while the teeanger was travelling alone in Karnaphuli-13 launch of Dhaka-Charfesson river route.
Police on Monday arrested three staff members of the Karnaphuli-13, who were being interrogated about the incident until the writing of this report.
The arrested are: Chef Md Hossain alias Gias Uddin, 19, Shakil, 19, and Shakil, 18, confirmed Tazumuddin police station Officer-in Charge (OC) Ziaul Hoque.
The girl said: “From the moment I got on the launch, some of the staff started harassing me. At one point, they started dragging me into the launch cabin. So, I jumped into the river.”
Md Salauddin Mia,owner of Karnaphuli-13 said none of his staff was involved in such an act. “After the girl jumped a buoy was dropped to save her which she failed to catch.”
The girl said a trawler rescued her upon hearing her screams three hours after the launch left her without rescuing her.
Fisherman Raihan of the trawler said: “We were preparing our boat for fishing when we heard a girl shouting for help. We rescued her and the locals took her to hospital for treatment.”
Tazumuddin Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) Dr Kabir Sohel said the girl sustained injuries in her left hand and necessary treatment was provided to her.
Tazumuddin police station OC Ziaul said: “The girl is kind of a vagabond. Around 10 years ago her father divorced her mother and is currently living in Dhaka marrying another.
“The girl’s mother is currently in Noakhali, she is also married to another man. The girl used to live with her maternal grandmother in Bhola. We have heard that she previously jumped into the Meghna River from trawlers,” the OC further said.
Police have been thoroughly investigating the case, OC Ziaul added.
