Police arrested a 25-year-old man in Tangail's Kalihati upazila on Wednesday for allegedly raping a 90-year-old woman.
The suspect, Palash Mia, who is said to be a drug addict, was later sent to a Tangail court in the afternoon.
According to family sources, the elderly woman used to sleep alone in a tin-shed house in the Dashkia Uttar Para (Palpara) village. Her three sons live separately, with their respective families.
Early Monday, Palash Mia, son of Sharif Uddin from the neighbouring village, allegedly broke into the elderly woman's house, sexually assaulted her, broke her teeth and stole a mobile phone.
The daughter-in-law said she heard the rape survivor's cries for help and attempted to enter the room but found the door locked from the outside. Upon hearing her screams, neighbours arrived, broke the lock and found the elderly woman lying on the floor, bleeding from her teeth and private parts.
The daughter-in-law said she heard the rape survivor's cries for help and attempted to enter the room but found the door locked from the outside. Upon hearing her screams, neighbours arrived, broke the lock and found the elderly woman lying on the floor, bleeding from her teeth and private parts.
Later, when the daughter-in-law saw Palash standing under a tree near the house, she called him and Palash ran away. The elderly woman was later admitted to Tangail General Hospital for treatment. Dr Salma Jahan, a consultant at the gynaecology department of the hospital, confirmed that the elderly woman showed signs of assault during her medical examination.
Palash Mia is known to be a drug addict in the area, often resorting to theft to fund his addiction. Dashkia Union Parishad Chairman MA Malek Bhuiyan expressed deep sorrow and condemned the heinous act, stating that a drug addict committed a grave injustice by assaulting a 90-year-old widow. Kalihati police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Molla Azizur Rahman said the rape survivor's son filed a case at the police station on Tuesday night.
