Shopkeeper arrested for repeatedly raping schoolgirl, filming and blackmailing her

A grocery shopkeeper has been arrested in Debhata upazila, Satkhira, on charges of repeatedly raping a Class IX schoolgirl after filming the act and blackmailing her with the video. Police arrested the accused, Mostafizur Rahman, 34, following a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

The victim's mother filed the case on Friday night, July 3, and the accused was produced before the court on Saturday, July 4, and sent to jail.

According to the case filing, the victim is a Class IX student at a local high school. On Friday around 12:30 pm, she went to buy food at a grocery and tea shop next to her house. Taking advantage of the shop being empty, the accused called her inside and raped her after promising marriage and threatening her.

Hearing the girl's screams, locals rushed to the spot, rescued her, and locked the accused inside the shop before informing the police. Police arrived and arrested him.

The victim's mother alleged in the case that Mostafizur had raped her daughter multiple times on different occasions, luring her with promises of marriage. He had also filmed the incidents on his mobile phone and had been blackmailing the girl for a long time, threatening to make the videos public. Fearing this, the girl had not told anyone earlier.

Debhata Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim said the accused has been sent to court. The victim has been sent to Satkhira Sadar Hospital for statement recording and medical examination.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further legal action will be taken based on the findings.