A tragic incident in the Thengamara area of Gaibandha district has once again highlighted the worsening plight of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. A woman from Palpara village is reportedly on the verge of death, overwhelmed by grief and trauma following the abduction of her young daughter, Aduri, a fifth-grade schoolgirl.
According to local eyewitnesses and family sources, 10-year-old Aduri was walking home from school on October 1 when she was suddenly abducted from the roadside by a local man identified as Shiblu Mia. The incident sparked immediate outrage among villagers, who demanded justice and the safe recovery of the girl. However, instead of immediate legal action, the case was initially handled through a local arbitration (shalish) organized by influential individuals in the area — a process that failed to bring any justice or resolution.
When the arbitration collapsed, Aduri’s family filed a case with the local police station. Yet, despite the filing, no arrests have been made, and the accused remains at large. Locals allege that the perpetrators are being protected by powerful political or social networks, and that law enforcement has shown little urgency in addressing the crime.
The prolonged inaction has devastated the victim’s mother, who has reportedly fallen critically ill from emotional trauma and grief. “She can barely speak or eat. She calls out her daughter’s name all day and night,” said one local resident.
This case is not an isolated one. Human rights groups and minority advocacy organizations have been warning for years about a sharp rise in abductions, rapes, and forced religious conversions targeting Hindu girls and women across Bangladesh. Reports from several NGOs suggest that at least 10 Hindu girls are either abducted, raped, or forcibly converted every single day — a statistic that paints a grim picture of ongoing persecution and systemic failure of justice.
Civil society activists are now urging the Bangladesh government to take immediate and decisive action. They are calling for a transparent investigation, arrest of the perpetrators, and protection of vulnerable minority communities across the country.
“This is not just one family’s tragedy — it is a mirror reflecting the fear and helplessness of thousands,” said a member of a local rights organization. “If the state cannot protect its children, especially from minority backgrounds, then justice and equality are just empty words.”
As the people of Gaibandha mourn and wait for justice, Aduri’s mother continues to battle for her life — her pain symbolizing the silent suffering of countless mothers across Bangladesh who live in fear of losing their daughters to the darkness of impunity.
