A case has been lodged regarding the purported rape and abuse of a woman in Hatia upazila of Noakhali, five days after the incident occurred. The victim submitted the case to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal of the district, accusing six individuals by name and around 50 to 100 unnamed persons around 4:00 pm.
Earlier in the same day, the woman was discharged from Noakhali General Hospital. The victim’s legal representative, Noman Siddiqui, mentioned that the court has acknowledged the complaint. Following a hearing, the court instructed Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Alam of Hatia Police Station to register the complaint as a regular case and present an investigation report. Additionally, Noakhali’s Superintendent of Police TM Mosharraf Hossain was directed to ensure the woman’s safety.
OC Saiful verified the filing of the case, while Additional SP Abu Tayyub Md Arif Hossain assured that necessary security precautions would be taken for the victim’s family. The case narrative detailed that the woman was sexually assaulted and mistreated for supporting her chosen candidate in the national election. The primary accused, Abdur Rahman, along with Emran Hossain alias Kala Emran and Belal Majhi, allegedly invaded the woman’s residence at 11:00 pm on Friday after the election on Thursday.
They reportedly restrained the victim’s husband, gagged him, and confined him while Rahman assaulted her, with Emran and Belal as lookouts, and others supposedly cheering outside. The victim, speaking to a reporter, expressed her fear of returning home and stated that she and her husband are presently residing with a relative after being released from the hospital.
She mentioned that all the accused are currently evading capture. In an earlier account to The Daily Star, she recounted how Rahman, Emran, and Belal barged into her house, stating, “You supported the NCP? Today we will show you the consequences.” The next day, they dragged the couple out of their home and physically attacked them.
The victim was later admitted to the 250-bed general hospital. On Sunday, the police lodged a General Diary at Hatia Police Station and instructed forensic examination of the victim in connection with the case.
