After being caned for attempting to rape a child on August 4, Jamaat activist arrested for raping another child 19 days later

❐ Local correspondent

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A Jamaat activist has been arrested for raping another child, 19 days after being arrested and sentenced to caning for attempting to rape a child after calling him into a shop on August 4.

A Jamaat worker named Md. Helal Uddin alias Helal Master (42) was arrested for raping a third-grade student in Hatia, Dwip Upazila of Noakhali. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

The incident took place at around 9 am on Sunday, August 23, at Adarsh ​​Gram Bazar in Harani Union of the upazila.

The arrested Helal Uddin is the son of Belayet Khalifa of Adarsh ​​village in Ward No. 4 of Harani Union. He runs a pharmacy in the local Adarsh ​​village market. Earlier, he was a teacher at Adarsh ​​village high school. He left teaching two-three years ago and started a pharmacy business.

According to police and locals, Helal Uddin subtly invited the 9-year-old girl to his pharmacy on the morning of the incident. He then took her to the back of the shop and raped her.

A witness, who noticed the incident, recorded a video of the incident using a broken piece of tin. The video later went viral on social media. When the locals questioned the accused after the video went viral, he tried to escape from the shop. At that time, the locals arrested him and handed him over to the Chairmanghat police station.

Locals allege that Helal Uddin was previously tried socially for attempting to rape a child in the same area on August 4. In that incident, he was fined 10,000 taka and sentenced to 50 lashes.

Locals allege that Helal Uddin used to be in the front row of Jamaat processions and meetings and worked for Jamaat in elections.

However, Amir Hafez Tariful Mawla of Harani Union Jamaat claimed that Helal Uddin is not a Jamaat worker.

SI Salauddin Rashed, in-charge of Chairmanghat police outpost, said that the accused, who was detained by locals after receiving information, was brought to the police outpost.

Hatia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kabir Hossain said that the child’s mother will file a case under the Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Act in this incident. The case process is underway. The victim child will be sent to Noakhali 250-bed General Hospital for a medical examination.

As the video of the incident spread on social media, those concerned have urged not to share or re-post the video to protect the child’s identity and dignity.

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Jamaat worker caught red-handed in attempt to cover up child rape case gets 50 lashes

A local arbitration court has decided to sentence Jamaat activist Helal Uddin to 50 lashes and a fine of Tk 10,000 for attempting to rape an 11-year-old girl in Hatia Upazila of Noakhali.

A video of the incident went viral on social media on Wednesday (August 5), sparking discussion about the issue.

According to local sources, a village arbitration was held on the afternoon of August 4 at the request of the victim’s family. The decision of those present at the arbitration was that the accused be flogged and fined.

According to the complaint, the child was returning home on Tuesday morning after buying spices from a nearby shop. He was accompanied by his younger sister.

At that time, Helal Uddin called the child to the shop and made his younger sister sit outside. Later, he took the child behind the shop and touched and attempted to rape her. The incident came to light when the child screamed and came out.

Local Jamaat-Shibir leaders tried to cover up the incident. Under their influence, the arbitrators claimed that the allegations of attempted rape were not proven.

However, even though the child’s younger sister’s testimony could not be taken as a separate case, a claim of ‘unwanted touching’ was made. Based on this, with the consent of those present, the accused was given 50 lashes and a fine of 10,000 taka.

Regarding the allegations, Jamaat activist Helal Uddin claimed that he had not done any such thing. He claimed that an attempt was being made to humiliate him socially through a conspiracy.

Helal could not give a satisfactory answer to the question, “Why did you take the victim child behind the shop while leaving her younger sister outside?”

In this regard, Hatia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Kabir Hossain said, “No written complaint has been filed with the police station regarding the incident yet. If a complaint is received, necessary action will be taken as per the law.”