Ride-Share driver arrested for raping female passenger in Narsingdi

Police have arrested a ride-sharing motorcycle driver for allegedly abducting and raping a female passenger in a secluded area in Narsingdi on May 28.

The accused, Md Shahparan, 30, apprehended and presented before the court of Narsingdi Senior Judicial Magistrate Meshkat Islam on Sunday (June 1), where he confessed to the charges under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Shahparan, a resident of Taranagar Bot toli Dakshin Para under Keraniganj Police Station in Dhaka, was arrested from Keraniganj on Saturday night while attempting to flee, according to police.

According to Narsingdi police, the victim had booked a ride from Mirpur-12 in Dhaka to Shyamoli on the afternoon of May 28 for medical treatment. Instead of taking her to the destination, the driver diverted the route and took her to a secluded area beside the Panchdona-Tongi regional highway in Ghorashal municipality of Palash upazila, approximately 500 yards from Elite Steel Ltd.

There, he raped the woman, stole her money, and threatened to kill her. The accused also contacted the woman’s relatives using her phone and coerced them to send money via bKash. Later, she filed a case at Palash Police Station the next day, naming Md. Shahparan as the main accused and mentioning two unidentified accomplices.

Under the direction of Narsingdi Superintendent of Police Md Abdul Hannan, a team of joint force including Detective Branch (DB) personnel initiated the manhunt.

Narsingdi Additional Superintendent of Police Md Anwar Hossain confirmed the arrest and confession, stating, “We took swift action upon receiving the emergency call. The accused has confessed, and we are continuing efforts to identify and arrest his accomplices.”