Garment worker's rape: police station does not take case even after 9 days, allegation of compromise proposal against police

A 44-year-old garment worker has made a rape allegation against the house owner in Sreepur of Gazipur. The victim alleged that the house owner entered her room by trick on the night of August 29 and raped her. Later, when the matter was disclosed, she was also given death threats.

The victim is a resident of Jamalpur district. She works in a garment factory while living on rent at the house of Abdur Rashid in Mulaid village of Telihati union under Sreepur upazila. The accused Abdur Rashid is 50 years old.

The victim claimed that she submitted a written complaint at Sreepur Police Station on the 9th of the current month seeking justice for the incident. She alleged that she could not get the case filed even after changing the complaint petition several times on the advice of the investigation officer. According to her, she went to the police station nine times to file the case but was delayed and made to go around each time.

The victim further alleged that even after informing the matter at the office of the police superintendent of Gazipur and receiving assurance of filing the case, no case has been filed. She also alleged that a proposal to compromise with the accused was given from the side of the police at the end. She claimed that she was advised to compromise by taking money and was threatened—the accused are influential, they can cause harm and it is better to compromise—police said such things.

However, investigation officer Rakhal Chandra Debnath has expressed a different opinion from the victim’s statement. He claimed that the victim herself had spoken about compromise. He said that the woman submitted a complaint at the police station on September 9 informing about being subjected to rape on the night of August 29. After that, he went to her house once and investigated the matter.

Rakhal Chandra Debnath said that he had advised the victim to file the case after arresting the accused. However, necessary cooperation was not received from her. He also claimed that the victim came to the police station again later to file the case after failing to reach a compromise settlement with the accused.

Officer-in-Charge of Sreepur Police Station Mohammad Shahinur Alam said that he does not know the details about the matter. There is a complaint and investigation officer Rakhal Chandra Debnath is looking into the matter. He said that the woman came to the police station several days after the rape incident and also spoke about compromise. According to him, police cannot arrange a compromise.

On the other hand, Police Superintendent of Gazipur Mohammad Jasim Uddin said that if the victim woman wants to file a case, the case will definitely be registered. Why the case has not been filed yet is being examined.