Police in Netrokona’s Mohanganj have arrested a 33-year-old man after a 20-year-old woman accused him of rape. Police said the woman is six months pregnant and alleged that the accused, identified as Abu Hanif, sexually assaulted her after promising to marry her.
Hanif, who is the husband of the woman’s cousin, was arrested from his home on Wednesday night. He was produced before a court on Thursday and subsequently sent to jail after his bail was rejected.
According to the case statement and police sources, Hanif had been visiting the woman’s family home because of his relationship with her cousin. Over time, the two allegedly developed a romantic relationship.
The woman alleged that around nine months ago, she travelled to Sylhet with Hanif. During the trip, he allegedly took her to a rented house and raped her after assuring her that he would marry her.
She later pressed him to marry her, according to the complaint. However, Hanif allegedly continued to delay the matter on various pretexts. At one stage, the woman discovered that she was pregnant.
The woman further alleged that Hanif began subjecting her to physical and psychological abuse after learning about the pregnancy. She also accused him of repeatedly attempting to take her to hospital to terminate the pregnancy. According to her complaint, she refused, after which she was allegedly assaulted on several occasions.
The alleged abuse reportedly escalated on the night of 13 September. The woman went to Hanif’s village home and again demanded that he marry her. She alleged that he became angry and beat her with a bamboo stick.
Local residents later rescued her and took her to a nearby upazila health complex for treatment.
Following the incident, the woman filed a rape case against Hanif at Mohanganj Police Station on Tuesday. Police subsequently arrested him from his home on Wednesday night.
He was formally shown arrested in the case before being taken to court on Thursday. After hearing the matter, the court rejected his bail petition and ordered that he be sent to jail.
Mohanganj Police Station officer-in-charge Hafizul Islam Harun said Hanif had been produced before the court after being arrested in the rape case. The court rejected his bail and ordered his detention in jail.
The police officer also said arrangements would be made for the complainant to undergo a medical examination and that further action would be taken in accordance with the law.
The allegations contained in the case statement have not yet been established in court. The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault, the subsequent pregnancy and the accusations of physical abuse. Hanif will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations through the legal process.
