Hill Voice, 12 March 2025, Bandarban: It has been reported that in the case of the rape of an mentally disabled girl (16) from the indigenous Khiyang community by an outsider worker named Md. Jamal Hossain in Khamtang Para of Rowangchari under Bandarban district, the army have pressured the victim’s family to reach a social compromise instead of filing a case with the police station.

It is to be noted that the rape incident took place on Monday, March 10, 2025, in the vicinity of Khamtang Para in Rowangchari Upazila Sadar. The accused Md. Jamal Hossain (32) is a laborer assigned to the construction of the Rowangchari-Ruma road. It is learnt that the house of the rapist Md. Jamal Hossain, s/o Nazrul Islam, is in Dakshin Das Para, Gashali Union, Dashmina Upazila, Patuakhali District, Barisal Division.

Then yesterday (March 11), local residents and other workers together aprehended the rapist Md. Jamal and handed him over to the police.

Meanwhile, several sources have reported that immediately after the incident, the army at the local army camp are pressuring the victim’s family to reconcile socially in exchange for money instead of filing a case against the rapist.

According to local sources, after the incident, Major Sarwar, commander of the Khamtang Para Army Camp under the 5 East Bengal Regiment of the Bandarban Army Zone, called the village headman and the parents of the victim girl to the camp and advised them to settle the rape incident through social norms and fines and not to file a case.

The elders of the area, on the advice of Army Major Sarwar, imposed a fine of 2 lakh taka on the rapist Md. Jamal Hossain. When Major Sarwar was informed of the verdict, Major Sarwar asked the elders to reduce the fine. According to Major Sarwar, the elders of the area reduced the fine from 2 lakh taka to 1 lakh 60 thousand taka.

When informed of the decision, Major Sarwar was reluctant to accept that too. Later, under pressure from Major Sarwar, the elders of the area were forced to give a verdict of only 40 thousand taka. It is learnt that even that money was kept in arrears and the victim’s family has not yet been given cash.

It is learnt that the victim’s family has not yet filed a case due to fear of the army. However, it is learnt that the police arrested Md. Jamal Hossain under Section 54 today and took him from Rowangchari to Bandarban Sadar.