Hill Voice, 11 March 2025, Bandarban: It has been reported that a 16-year-old mentally disabled girl from the indigenous Khiyang community was raped by an outsider worker named Md. Jamal Hossain, in the vicinity of Khamtam Para in Sadar Union of Rowangchari Upazila under Bandarban district.

The incident took place on Monday, March 10, 2025, near Khamtam Para in Rowangchari Upazila Sadar. The accused, Md. Jamal Hossain (32), is said to be a laborer assigned to the construction of the Rowangchari-Ruma road. Md. Jamal Hossain is the son of Nazrul Islam of Barisal district.

According to local sources, the mentally unstable girl used to roam around the village all the time. Yesterday evening, the road repair worker, Md. Jamal Hossain, found her alone in the graveyard area near Khamtam Para, took her to the forest and raped her.

Hearing the girl’s screams, the people of the village rushed there and rescued the victim.

When the incident became known in the village, the accused Jamal Hossain could not be found despite searching all night. Today, March 11, in the morning, other workers assigned to road work detained him and handed him over to the villagers. It is said that the villagers detained the accused Jamal Hossain in a school and handed him over to the police of Rowangchari Police Station.

When the police of Rowangchari Police Station went to the spot and interrogated the accused Md. Jamal Hossain, he confessed to the rape.

The victim’s brother, Raven Khiyang, said that Jamal Hossain, a road worker, dragged the victim off the road, took her to the forest, raped her and fled. Later, Jamal was arrested by the villagers and other workers working on the road and handed over to the police.

Rowangchari Sadar Union Parishad Chairman Mehla Aung Marma said, ‘The victim girl is mentally disabled. As soon as the rape incident was heard, the police along with the villagers rushed to the spot, arrested Jamal Hossain and took him to the police station.’