The prime accused in the much-talked-about rape-murder of a teenage girl in Narsingdi, Noor Mohammad alias Nura, a notorious local figure, was arrested late Friday night in the Maona area in Gazipur, marking a crucial step toward justice amid growing public outrage.
The horrific case of rape followed by brutal murder in Narsingdi has once again exposed the depths of impunity, lawlessness, and systemic failure to protect women and girls in Bangladesh.
The victim, a 15-year-old girl from Mahishashura Union’s Bilpar area in Madhabdi upazila, endured unimaginable terror. Approximately 15 days earlier, around February 10-12, 2026, Nura and 5-6 accomplices allegedly abducted her while she was returning home, gang-raped her, and threatened her into silence. When her desperate family sought justice instead of accepting local “settlements,” they approached former Ward No. 9 Union Parishad member and Union BNP Vice-President Ahammad Ali Dewan.
Tragically, no real justice followed. Allegations in the case claim Dewan orchestrated a compromise, extorted money from the perpetrators, suppressed the matter, and pressured the family to leave the village—emboldening the criminals further.
On Wednesday night, February 25, as the girl’s father was escorting her to her aunt’s house for safety, Nura and his gang ambushed them in the Bilpar area, abducted the teenager in front of her father, and took her away. Despite frantic searches throughout the night, she vanished. On Thursday morning, February 26, locals discovered her body in a mustard field between Bilpar and Darikandi villages—strangled with a scarf (orna) around her neck. An autopsy would confirm details, but the sequence points to premeditated murder to silence her and cover up the initial rape.
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The girl’s mother filed a case at Madhabdi Police Station on Thursday night, naming nine suspects—including Nura as the ringleader—and 2-3 other unidentified people. Charges include abduction, gang rape, murder, and related offenses. Police swiftly arrested several, initially five (including Dewan, his son Imran Dewan, Ebadullah, Md. Gaffar, and Md. Ayub), followed by Nura and Hazrat Ali late Friday, bringing the total to seven in custody. The remaining accused are being hunted.
In response to Dewan’s alleged role, the Sadar Upazila BNP expelled him from all party positions, including primary membership, citing a clear violation of party discipline. This swift expulsion is a necessary acknowledgement that no political affiliation should shield criminals—yet it underscores how local power brokers often exploit influence to subvert justice.
Student organisations across universities condemned the atrocity and broader failures in women’s safety.
The leaders of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), led by Islami Chhatra Shibir, staged a procession after Friday prayers from the central mosque to Raju Sculpture, chanting slogans against rapists, impunity, and government inaction. Leaders warned of mass resistance if justice falters, criticising the interim government’s inability to ensure security in its early days and demanding zero tolerance for rapists and extortionists—even within ruling circles.
Similar protests erupted at Jahangirnagar University (JUCSU) at Bot Tola and Jagannath University, where Shibir activists decried rising anarchy, “moral policing” over real protection, and the shame of repeated failures to deliver justice. They called for independent courts, moral education, and the end of political interference in law enforcement.
Human rights activists say this tragedy is not isolated—it’s a damning indictment of mob-like local arbitration that prioritises hush money over accountability, political patronage that protects thugs, and a society where girls pay the ultimate price for demanding rights. Rape and murder cannot be “settled” through backroom deals or threats; perpetrators must face swift, exemplary punishment under the law—no exceptions for local “strongmen” or their enablers.
Condolences to the grieving family—may they find strength amid unbearable loss. The arrests are progress, but true justice requires thorough investigation, fair trial, and systemic reforms to dismantle the culture of impunity. Women and girls deserve safety, not vengeance for seeking help. Society, authorities, and political parties must unite against this barbarism, or such horrors will persist.
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