DHAKA: Thousands of protesters in Bangladesh clashed with police on Friday in a bid to seize a man suspected of raping a four-year-old girl.

In recent months, the country has seen a spike in reported cases of violence against women and children, fuelling widespread anger.

Police said the suspect, Monir Hossain, was detained by locals in Chattogram, Bangladesh’s second-largest city, and was handed over to the authorities on Thursday when tensions boiled over among the roughly 5,000 people present.

Crowds surrounded the police vehicle and attempted to seize Hossain, prompting officials to deploy reinforcements and fire tear gas.

The clashes lasted nearly six hours and a police vehicle was torched.

“The situation is now under control, and the perpetrator will be taken to court today,” a police spokesman said.

The four-year-old was undergoing hospital treatment.

The unrest came two days after the alleged rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Dhaka shocked the country.

In Bangladesh’s capital, residents protested on Thursday by blocking roads for hours and rallying in several areas demanding justice.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met the victim’s family in Dhaka and promised swift justice.

Reported cases of violence against women and children climbed to 2,011 last month from 1,425 in March and 1,181 in February, according to official data.

Rights activists say impunity is widespread in Bangladesh’s glacial judicial system.

A recent study by the top court and a non-profit found the conviction rate in such cases stands at just three per cent, while around 70 per cent of the accused are eventually released.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2026