TDS Desk:

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has expressed deep concern and outrage over the gang rape and murder of an eighth-grade schoolgirl in Dakshinkhan of Dhaka.

In a statement issued on Monday the organisation demanded swift justice, and urged the authorities to ensure exemplary punishment for the culprits.

According to reports, on January 16, the victim left her home, telling her parents she needed to buy something, but she never returned. After an unsuccessful search, her father filed a General Diary (GD) at Dakshinkhan Police Station on January 19.

Investigations later revealed that Robin, an acquaintance of the victim, lured her to a house in Mohakhali, where he, Rabbi, and three others gang-raped her, the statement read. When the victim became unconscious, the perpetrators murdered her and dumped her body in a sack at Hatirjheel to hide their crime, it added.

In its statement, Mahila Parishad expressed concern over the increasing violence against women and girls, including rape and murder, which continues to threaten their safety and security.

The organisation said, “Such heinous acts are not only alarming but also severely impact women’s and girls’ ability to live freely and move forward in life.”

It demanded an immediate and impartial investigation, the arrest of the accused, and swift legal action to ensure justice.

The organisation also called for effective measures to address the growing violence against women and girls and ensure their safety across the country.

The statement was signed by Fauzia Moslem, president of Mahila Parishad, and Maleka Banu, its general secretary.