NCP leader arrested over college student rape on false marriage promise

Police have arrested a National Citizen Party (NCP) leader in Chattogram on charges of allegedly raping a college student after promising to marry her, following a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

The accused, Aftab Majumder Joy, was arrested on Wednesday night (July 22) from the BDR Field area in Halishahar.

Joy serves as an organiser of NCP's Chattogram metropolitan committee, convener of Bandar Thana Juboshokti, and a member of the party's central convening committee.

Jasim Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chandgaon Police Station, said, "The victim filed the case on July 19, accusing Aftab of rape. Acting on the case, RAB arrested the accused and later handed him over to police."

According to the case statement, the accused became acquainted with the HSC second-year student of Agrabad Mohila College through Facebook. Their relationship later developed, during which he allegedly promised to marry her.

The complaint alleges that on the night of July 14, Aftab took the student to a residential hotel in Chandgaon, where he had sexual intercourse with her after assuring her of marriage. When she later asked him to formalise the marriage, he allegedly refused and cut off all communication.

The victim later discovered that Aftab was already married and had a child, prompting her to file the case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

Meanwhile, NCP Chattogram Metropolitan Acting Office Secretary Ridwan Hridoy confirmed that Aftab is a party member and married. He said the party would expel him if the allegations of moral misconduct are proven, adding that the matter is unrelated to his political identity and should proceed through the legal process.