Hill Voice, 24 April 2026, Bandarban: It has been reported that on Thursday morning (23 April), a 12-year-old Mro girl was attempted to rape by a Bengali settler in Donroi Para village of Ward No. 1 under Thanchi Sadar Union in Thanchi Upazila of Bandarban district.

It is further reported that the incident was later settled for only 10,000 taka following the intervention of two individuals identified as officials of state intelligence agencies, Rajdul (DGFI) and Mannan (NSI).

The accused has been identified as Md. Russell (32), a Bengali settler who migrated from the plains and is currently residing in the Army Para area of Bandarban Sadar. His original home is reported to be in Jessore district, and he is said to be a scrap trader by profession.

According to sources, on the morning of 23 April, Md. Russell entered Donroi Para and began calling out to residents to buy old scrap materials. The villagers said him that no such items were available there to sell and advised him to go to a nearby area called Khumi Para, showing him the way. There were two routes-one leading to Khumi Para and the other is used by villagers to collect water.

Subsequently, instead of taking the road to Khumi Para, the accused, Md. Russell, allegedly went deliberately to a secluded water collection point. At that time, the victim girl was alone and collecting water. The Bengali settler approached her, saying he was thirsty and looking for water. When the child offered him water, he claimed it was dirty and asked her to fetch fresh water. As the child bent forward again to collect water, Russell allegedly suddenly pounced on her. He forcibly touched the child’s sensitive and private parts and attempted to rape her. Later, the child, being terrified, screamed and cried, and somehow managed to save her life and ran to the village, where she is said to have narrated the terrifying incident to the villagers.

Local residents stated that upon hearing the news, a young man from the village immediately ran to the scene, apprehended the alleged perpetrator, Md. Russell, and kept him detained. Later in the afternoon, when villagers returned from Jum cultivation work, the matter was reported to the local headman of Mouza No. 362, Rengchin Mro, in the hope of proper legal action. The headman asked that the accused be brought to him but stated that he could not handle the matter alone.

He then called a Bengali trader named Jasim from Thanchi Bazaar. The trader, reportedly under the pretext of contacting the police, instead called two individuals identified as officials of DGFI and NSI, who then arrived at the scene. Subsequently, the two intelligence officials allegedly instructed that the matter be settled through a fine of 10,000 taka, and in accordance with their directive, the accused, Md. Russell, was released upon payment of the amount.

The incident has reportedly caused strong dissatisfaction among local residents. A local elder stated that when those responsible for upholding the law instead allow a suspect in a serious crime such as attempted rape to be released for only 10,000 taka, without proper legal proceedings or strict punishment, it is a disgraceful matter. Such actions, he added, are gradually fostering distrust toward state institutions within the hill communities.