Teenage girl jumps into river to escape sexual assault in Bhola

A 16-year-old girl jumped in the Meghna River reportedly to save herself from sexual assault in a launch when she was travelling through Bhuiyan village region under Tazumuddin upazila.

The incident took place on Saturday evening while the teeanger was travelling alone in Karnaphuli-13 launch of Dhaka-Charfesson river route.

"From the moment I got on the launch, some of the staff started harassing me. At one point, they started dragging me into the launch cabin. So, I jumped into the river," the girl said.

Md Salauddin Mia,owner of Karnaphuli-13 said none of his staff was involved in such an act. "After the girl jumped a buoy was dropped to save her which she failed to catch."

The girl said a trawler rescued her upon hearing her screams three hours after the launch left her without rescuing her.

Fisherman Raihan of the trawler said: "We were preparing our boat for fishing when we heard a girl shouting for help. We rescued her and the locals took her to hospital for treatment." 

Tazumuddin Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) Dr Kabir Sohel said the girl sustained injuries in her left hand and necessary treatment was provided to her.

Tazumuddin Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) SM Ziaul Haque said legal action would be taken after taking the girl's statement.

"We will find her guardians and hand her over to them," he added.