Shibir leader Jisan stages self-disappearance to evade rape case, marriage pressure

Police have arrested Chhatra Shibir central leader Jisan Pradhan in a case filed on charges of rape and forced abortion, alleging that he also staged his own disappearance to evade a rape allegation and pressure to marry the complainant.

According to Cumilla district police, Jisan was not abducted as previously claimed.

Investigators say he voluntarily went into hiding after a woman accused him of rape and forcing her to undergo an abortion.

Jisan, a central assistant secretary for international affairs of Islami Chhatra Shibir and former president of the organisation’s Cumilla West unit, is currently receiving treatment under police custody at Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

Authorities said he will be produced before a court once his condition improves.

Police recovered the 28-year-old from the Laksam Railway Junction area on Friday night. Although he initially claimed he had been abducted, investigators said they found no evidence supporting the allegation.

In a statement, police said the woman alleged that Jisan raped her at a rented residence in Daudkandi on May 20 after promising marriage. When she later became pregnant, her pregnancy was allegedly terminated by force. Investigators claim Jisan initially agreed to marry her but later went into hiding to avoid the situation.

Police further alleged that efforts were made to portray his disappearance as an abduction or enforced disappearance. As part of that attempt, a general diary (GD) was reportedly filed at a police station by his cousin, Rasel Ahmed, claiming Jisan had gone missing.

Following his recovery, the woman filed a case with Daudkandi Model Police Station on Friday night under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The case includes allegations of rape, assisting in rape and forced abortion. Jisan has been named the principal accused among four individuals listed in the case.

The incident had earlier triggered concern among leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir, who publicly claimed that Jisan had been abducted. A statement posted on the verified Facebook page of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed concern over his disappearance and called on authorities to ensure his safe return.

In a separate development, former DUCSU General Secretary and Shibir leader SM Farhad said the organisation had decided to expel Jisan following the allegations against him.

The case remains under investigation.