Noakhali Correspondent

A seven-year-old child has been accused of attempting to rape on his way to a madrasa in Companiganj, Noakhali.

Immediately after the incident, local BNP leaders called a mediation meeting to save the accused Shahrukh (18) in the name of resolving the matter and decided to settle the matter for Tk 20,000. Such a video has already been spread on Facebook. Locals reacted angrily to this and demanded that the mediators of the child rape attempt be brought under the law.

This mediation meeting was held behind the Miyaji house of Ward No. 6 of Musapur Union of the upazila on Saturday (March 1) afternoon. Earlier, this incident took place in the morning of the same day. However, the child's mother did not accept this settlement.

Accused Md. Shahrukh is the son of Nur Nabi of the new house of Siraj Mia of Ward No. 6 of Musapur Union of the upazila.

In the viral video, at the beginning of the arbitration, a relative of the accused youth told the arbitrators, "I agree with whatever you say." Then another person said in return that he agreed, so he signed. This time, many present at the arbitration asked former joint general secretary of Musharpur Union BNP and arbitrator Md. Ali alias Johnny to speak. Johnny said, "Shahrukh is the accused because he left the scene. Instead of going to the courthouse, we have decided here that Shahrukh's guardians will fine him 20 thousand taka and give him 20 lashes. If you accept this judgment, the stamp will be with arbitrator Alamgir, if you do not accept the judgment, take the stamp. Then Judge Alamgir said that the stamp will not be given. Then the arbitrator ordered the father of the accused boy to whip his son and said, "The issue of whipping is not there now, but there is a middleman in the country." At that time, the father of the accused said that he would pay the fine after a day. Then the mother of the accused boy came and whipped her son a few times, and then she left.

According to police and local sources, Shahrukh took the victim to a quiet place on Saturday morning while she was on her way to study Arabic at a madrasa. Shahrukh ran away when a passerby saw her. Later, when the matter came to light, an arbitration meeting was held through the locals and attempts were made to reach a compromise. At one stage, a verdict was given to pay 20,000 taka to the victim's family. But the mother of the abused child did not agree to the local settlement demanding fair trial. A day after the incident, on Sunday, March 2, the mother of the victim filed a case with the police station under the Child Abuse Prevention Act.

When asked about the allegations, former joint general secretary of Musapur Union BNP and arbitrator Md. Ali alias Johnny said that most of the arbitrators are BNP. Apart from this, Bahar Contractor is the general secretary of Musapur Union JSD and Nayan supports the Awami League. Sasildar Jasim, Nayan, Bahar Contractor, Sikder Bari's Saiful, Dulal, Harun and the mother of the abused child called me for mediation. The incident happened next door to my house, and the child's mother came and cried, so I went. However, I did not want to go. My political opponents are trying to hurt me politically by making the video of the mediation viral.

When asked, Companiganj Police Station OC Gazi Muhammad Foujul Azim said, I have seen the video of the mediation. Legal action will be taken after investigating. A case has been registered against one person in this incident. The police are trying to arrest the accused. On the other hand, the victim child has been sent to the hospital for a health check-up.