JCD leader held over raping college student in Jashore

Police have arrested a local Chhatra Dal leader in Jashore on allegations of raping a higher secondary student after allegedly luring her with the promise of assistance in processing her national identity card (NID).

The suspect, Arafat Hossain Rabbi, 22, was detained around 9:00pm following a complaint filed by the victim's family, police said.

Rabbi serves as the Senior Joint General Secretary of the Chaugachha Government College unit of Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD).

According to the first information report (FIR), the Class XII student sought Rabbi's help to complete formalities related to her national identity card, as he was known to the family through relatives.

Investigators said Rabbi took the student to Chaugachha town on Saturday morning (August 1), despite the local election office being closed for the weekly holiday. Police allege that he later persuaded her to accompany him to the residence of an acquaintance in the municipality, where she was sexually assaulted.

The complaint states that the student became ill following the incident and later returned home, where she informed her parents. The family subsequently took her to Chaugachha Police Station and filed a formal complaint.

Acting on the allegation, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Abdus Sattar arrested Rabbi later that evening.

Mamunur Rashid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chaugachha Police Station, said, "The arrest was made based on the victim's written complaint."

"The suspect will be produced before a Jessore court on Sunday, while further legal proceedings remain underway," he added.

Rabbi's statement regarding the allegations was not immediately available.