Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader Abu Sufiyan Shohan has been expelled for life from Rupganj Upazila Chhatra League following the gangrape of a schoolgirl in Rupganj, Narayanganj.
Rupganj Upazila Chhatra League president Faisal Alam Shikder and general secretary Sheikh Farid Bhuiyan confirmed the expulsion at a press conference on Tuesday.
They said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Chhatra League unit where Shohan was expelled for disciplinary issues.
Shohan, son of Abul Kalam from Rupashi, Rupganj, was serving as vice-president of the Tarabo municipality unit under the jurisdiction of the Upazila Chhatra League.
"Despite previous allegations of multiple wrongdoings, we were not able to take any action against Shohan due to lack of evidence. However, the unit unanimously decided to expel Shohan after news emerged of him being involved in the gangrape incident. A culprit can never be a part of any party," Rupganj Chhatra League president Faisal Shikder, told Dhaka Tribune.
He said the Chhatra League unit has pledged to stand by the victim and her family and that they have already formed a human chain seeking justice for the victim.
On the morning of January 10, Shohan was apprehended with 86 bottles of phensedyl, by police from Ashuganj police station in Brahmanbaria. He is currently being held at Brahmanbaria District Jail.
Confirming the arrest, the officer in charge (OC) of Rupganj police station said: "Two -- Afzal, 26, Towsif, 24 -- were arrested on the night the rape case was filed, while Shohan was arrested on a drug case in Ashuganj. He has also been shown arrested in the rape case and we are working on bringing him to Rupganj from Ashuganj."
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He also mentioned that the police are trying to arrest Tanvir, another accused.
Afzal and Towsif have been taken into remand by the police to question them for the rape investigation.
Police inspector of Narayanganj court, Asaduzzaman, confirmed that Senior Judicial Magistrate Kawser Ahmed granted a two day remand when the two were presented in court, though the police sought seven days' time.
According to the case statement, Towsif borrowed Tk500 from the victim. While returning the lent money on Thursday, Afzal, Towsif, Tanvir, BCL leader Shohan, and two or three other unidentified persons, forced the victim into a microbus. She was held captive for two days and raped in turns.
The victim was left in Siddhirganj’s Mouchak area early on Saturday, and was rescued by her family members with the help of a few locals.
She is currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
On January 11, her father filed a case with Rupganj police station regarding the incident.