Police have arrested three people, including a bus driver and his assistant, over the attempted rape of a woman aboard a moving bus in Ashulia, Dhaka.
The arrestees are bus helper Md Musfequr Rahman Joni, 20, driver Md Imran, 35, and Imran's acquaintance, Md Suman Pramanik, 30.
According to Ashulia police, the woman and her acquaintance, Md Rubel, 27, boarded a Savar Paribahan bus at Gabtoli in Dhaka around 1:30am on Sunday, intending to travel to Nabinagar in Savar.
As the bus neared Nabinagar, after other passengers had disembarked, driver Imran allegedly handed over the steering wheel to helper Joni. Police said Imran then assaulted Rubel, threatened to kill him, and forced him off the bus. Imran also got off shortly afterwards, leaving the woman, Joni and Suman on board.
Police alleged that Joni, with Suman's assistance, then attempted to rape the woman inside the moving bus. The victim screamed for help.
After getting off the bus, Rubel called the national emergency service 999 and informed police.
Acting on the information, Ashulia police intercepted the bus at Rarapara bus stand by blocking its path with another vehicle. The woman was rescued, while Joni and Suman were arrested at the scene.
The victim later filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
Police subsequently arrested driver Imran during a raid in the Baraipara area of Ashulia around 3:30pm on Sunday.
Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Tariqul Islam said police responded immediately after receiving the 999 call, rescued the victim and arrested the suspects.
He said all three accused have been arrested in connection with the case.
