Speakers at a human chain in Joypurhat demanded immediate arrest and capital punishment of the criminals who raped a schoolgirl and also stabbed her on December 23.

Quoting doctors, father of the victim, said his daughter suffered a stroke and is yet to regain her consciousness.

People from all walks of life, including teachers and students of different educa-tional institutions, joined the programme at Matrai Bazar in Kalai upazila yesterday.

They also urged the prime minister to bear the treatment cost of the rape victim.

A gang entered the house of the ninth grader and locked the door of her parents' room. They later raped her, father of the victim said, adding that at one stage, they stabbed his daughter.

She was rushed to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra

in a critical condition. Later, the girl was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as her condition worsened further.

Police arrested two men in connection with the incident onThursday.

Our staff correspondent in Dhaka confirmed that the girl is still unconscious as of filing of this report around 8:50pm yesterday.