Jamaat leader sued for raping, forced abortion of widow in Patuakhali

A widow has filed a case against a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader in Patuakhali for allegedly raping her on the false promise of marriage and forcing her to have an abortion.

The victim filed the case with the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, Patuakhali, on July 22, said the plaintiff's lawyer, Advocate Md Humayun Kabir.

Judge Shirin Nila of the tribunal took cognisance of the case and asked the Sadar police station to take necessary action.

Since the case was filed, the accused, Md Shahidul Islam, the president of Sadar upazila unit Juba Jamaat, has been at large.

According to the case statement, the woman's husband died around seven years ago and since then, she, along with her sole child, has been living in her father's house. At that time, she alleged Shahidul made immoral proposals on various occasions.

When she refused, the accused proposed to marry her and also assured her of taking care of her lone child, she said.

On March 24, Shahidul took her to his sister's home in Patuakhali district town and raped her there. He also violated her on various occasions by intimidating her, the case statement said.

When the victim became pregnant as a result of rape, Shahidul forced her to have an abortion, she alleged.

Patuakhali district Jamaat amir Najul Ahsan refused to comment further as the matter is under trial in court, adding that if he is found guilty, organisational action will be taken against him.

Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Patuakhali Sadar Police Station, said, "Police have yet to receive a copy of the court's order."

"Legal action against the accused will be taken in accordance with the court's directives once the order is officially received," he said.