Ex-Shibir leader arrested in Florida over alleged sexual acts involving goat

Police in Hillsborough County, Florida, have arrested a university professor named Rayan Abdul Baten on allegations that he recorded, distributed and possessed photographs and videos depicting sexual acts involving a goat.

He is reportedly a former leader of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.

According to publicly available police records, charges related to the recording, distribution and possession of images and videos of sexual activity involving an animal were filed against him on 29 October.

Baten is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Florida. He was a student in the 2010 batch of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He later completed his master’s degree and PhD at the University of Rochester.

Several of his former BUET classmates have claimed that he was involved in the politics of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir during his student years.

According to information provided, Baten and his wife are currently supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami.