Attempted Settlement with a Fine of Taka 50,000 in Social Arbitration Alleged!
Bandarban, CHT News
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the gang rape of a fifth-grade female primary school student by five Marma youths in Ruma Upazila, Bandarban district. The remaining two are reportedly still at large. The victim is also from the same Marma community.
The three arrested individuals are Kysaiwong Marma (19), Kyahlawong Marma (22), and Uhai Sing Marma (23). They are residents of Headman Para in Ward No. 2 of Paindu Union.
The incident occurred on August 8, 2025, in Paindu Headman Para of Ruma Upazila. However, it was not initially publicized. It came to light only after attempts were made to settle the matter through social arbitration with a fine of Taka 50,000, which sparked reactions on social media.
Locals allege that social leaders attempted to release the perpetrators with a fine through arbitration.
Ruma Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Sawhrawardy stated, “Although the incident happened 11 days ago, widespread criticism erupted in the Upazila after the gang rape came to light on social media on Wednesday (August 20). Following this, a team from Ruma Police Station conducted an operation at the scene. Three out of the five involved have been arrested.”
Returning from the scene on Wednesday morning, Ruma Press Club President Shoihlaching Marma told reporters, citing villagers, “On the night of August 8, Shoihainu Marma, a resident of Paindu Headman Para, first raped a fifth-grade student. When his friends found out, the next day, four other friends—Uhai Sing Marma, Kyahlawong Marma, Kysaiwong Marma, and Chohai Marma—intimidated the girl and took her to a teak garden behind the community clinic in the village.”
“There, she was gang-raped from 9:30 PM to 2:00 AM. The matter had been suppressed until now. Later, when the victim informed her family, it became public in the area.”
Shoihlaching said, “In this situation, an arbitration session was organized on August 19 at the Headman’s house in Paindu Mouza. Union Parishad member Gongbache Marma and village headman Thowaisha Khoi Marma were also present. The five involved were fined Taka 50,000 through arbitration. The fine was reportedly to be given to the victim for medical expenses.”
However, journalist Shoihlaching Marma said that UP member Gongbache Marma claimed he was forced to participate in the social arbitration due to the demands of the victim’s guardians and villagers.
The victim’s guardian stated that there was no government school in their village. The government primary school in Headman Para is two kilometers away from the village. Therefore, she was being educated while staying in a residential-type hostel near the primary school. A major accident had occurred in her daughter’s life. The perpetrators must face punishment.
Regarding why criminals involved in serious offenses like rape are released with a fine under the guise of social arbitration, the General Secretary of Bandarban Headman-Karbaris Welfare Council, Unihla Marma, said, “Criminal offenses like rape can in no way be handled through social arbitration. They might have thought that everyone is from the same village and somehow related. They considered a serious crime like this to be a minor issue. But by attempting to arbitrate a crime like rape socially, they have also committed an offense. A fair investigation should be conducted, and they should also be punished. Otherwise, such incidents will happen repeatedly.”
OC Sawhrawardy stated that the remaining two individuals are still at large and will also be arrested.
Source: bdnews24.com
———-
