A man has been arrested by Patuakhali police on charges of raping a college student while she was returning home after visiting the grave of her father, martyred in the July uprising.
The incident took place on Tuesday, in the village of West Algi under Pangasia union in Dumki upazila, Patuakhali.
Jakir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dumki police station, confirmed the arrest to The Business Standard on Thursday.
The arrested individual is Sakib Munshi, a resident of Pangasia union.
A case was filed in connection with the incident.
According to the police and the rape survivor's family members, the girl was sexually assaulted while returning home after visiting her father’s grave, who had been martyred in the July uprising due to police gunfire.
OC Jakir said: “As she reached the Naldowani area, local residents Sakib Munshi and Sifat Munshi forcibly covered her mouth and dragged her into an abandoned garden owned by Jalil Munshi, where they raped her.”
The perpetrators allegedly recorded the assault on a mobile phone and took photographs, later threatening to release the footage if the victim disclosed the incident or sought legal action.
The survivor’s family immediately lodged a complaint that night.
“Upon receiving the complaint, we conducted an operation and arrested the accused, Sakib Munshi. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other suspect,” OC Jakir added.
