Protests erupt in Bangladesh after death of eight-year-old rape victim

Widespread protests broke out across Bangladesh following the death of an eight-year-old girl who was raped earlier this month.

The child succumbed to her injuries on Thursday after being assaulted while visiting her elder sister’s home in the city of Magura, with the attack occurring sometime between the night of March 5 and the following morning.

According to a case filed by her mother, the girl was allegedly raped by her sister's 18-year-old husband, who has since been arrested along with his parents and brother. Following the news of the child's death, an enraged mob descended on the home where the assault took place, setting it on fire.

The girl died at approximately 1:00 PM local time after suffering three cardiac arrests during her six-day stay in critical condition at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.

A statement from the government’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) department confirmed that while doctors managed to stabilize her twice, her heart failed to restart after the third episode.

"I thought my daughter would survive," her mother told local media. "If she had made it through, I would never have let her go anywhere alone again."

The girl's body was transported back to Magura via army helicopter and landed at a local stadium, where thousands gathered for her namaz-e-janaza, the Islamic funeral prayer. An additional memorial service was held at Dhaka University, followed by protests and speeches from female students demanding justice.

Demonstrators called for the government to expedite justice for rape victims and reform laws related to the safety of women and children. Many protesters emphasized the need for clearer legal definitions of rape in Bangladesh, which they argue are currently ambiguous.