The police have arrested a Chhatra League leader on charges of raping a speech-impaired teenage girl in Lakshmipur.
Mahbub Alam Shiplu, vice president of Kamalnagar upazila Chhatra League and a follower of Lakshmipur Chhatra League President Saiful Islam Rocky, was taken into custody late on Tuesday, said Lakshmipur Sadar model police station OC Mosleh Uddin.
Earlier, in the afternoon, the rape survivor's aunt filed a case against him.
According to the case statement, the 17-year-old rape survivor lives with her uncle and aunt as her father died when she was a child and her mother left her soon after.
The accused, Shiplu, lives in the same area.
According to various sources, Shiplu used to make advances to the teen and threatened her after several refusals. At one point, he reportedly succeeded in forming a physical relationship with the girl and raped her for four months.
As the uncle and aunt of the rape survivor were both office workers, the girl was left alone during the day. Shiplu took advantage of that and started going to their home every day.
On Monday, Shiplu was caught by the teen's aunt when she came home for something urgent. When she screamed, Shiplu ran away. Later, the aunt filed a rape case against Shiplu, leading to his arrest.
Lakshmipur Chhatra League President Saiful Islam Rocky denied the allegation against Shiplu and claimed he had been framed due to a family dispute.
“However, if the allegation is proven, action will be taken against him,” he added.