Chhatra Dal Leader Accused of Attempted Rape on Pregnant Woman

Law enforcement authorities in Shariatpur have initiated a manhunt for a local leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD)—the student affiliate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party—following serious allegations of attempted rape against a seven-month pregnant woman. The event, which transpired on the afternoon of 5 August in Dhali Kandi village within the Char Kumaria Union of Sakhipur, has left the aggrieved family living in deep apprehension amidst reports of ongoing intimidation.

Sequence of Events and Subsequent Harassment

The primary suspect, 33-year-old Milon Dhali, serves as the Vice-President of the Char Kumaria Union unit of the JCD. According to official police disclosures and statements from residents, Milon had repeatedly subjected the 23-year-old victim, Airin Laboni, to persistent stalking and unwanted advances over an extended duration. On the day of the incident, exploiting the temporary absence of her family members, Milon allegedly trespassed into her paternal home. He is reported to have restrained her by force, committing physical molestation before attempting to carry out a sexual assault.

The victim resisted and raised an outcry, prompting Milon to physically attack her prior to absconding as neighbors responded to her calls for help. Distressed and injured, she was promptly conveyed to the Veederganj Upazila Health Complex for clinical care. On 9 August, the victim’s mother, Nazma Begum, formally registered a case at Sakhipur Police Station under the relevant statutes governing attempted sexual violence, citing Milon Dhali and an accomplice, Anwar Dhali (36).

Rather than bringing relief, the legal action has precipitated severe fallout for the family. On 11 August, the accused reportedly contacted the victim’s mother via telephone, threatening to kill her family members and incinerate their homestead using petrol bombs if the formal complaint was not retracted. Driven by terror, the family has abandoned their residence and taken shelter with extended relatives.

Local Discontent and Official Response

Community figures have voiced sharp criticism over the suspect’s conduct and his perceived reliance on political patronage to evade accountability. Wasiim Dhali, a local community leader, remarked that Milon had received multiple formal warnings regarding his behavior prior to the attack, stressing that his political ties had emboldened his actions. Local resident Anwar Hossain Sardar described Milon as a habitual offender whose actions had jeopardized public safety, urging the administration to execute a prompt arrest.

Addressing the controversy, HM Zakir Hossain, Convenor of the Shariatpur District JCD, asserted that the organization does not harbor individuals implicated in criminal activities. He stated that the organizational status of the accused would be verified with local committee representatives, promising that appropriate administrative measures would follow if his position is confirmed.

Milon Dhali remains at large. In a video broadcast published on social media platforms, he rejected the allegations, asserting instead that the confrontation stemmed from a financial dispute involving the victim’s brother.

Mofazzal Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Sakhipur Police Station, confirmed that a case has been formally instituted and submitted to the judicial tribunal. He affirmed that active police raids are under way to apprehend the fleeing suspect, reassuring that additional security grievances regarding death threats would be investigated thoroughly.

Contextual Note: Cases involving sexual violence and post-complaint intimidation highlight systemic challenges within local justice mechanisms. Under the laws of Bangladesh, notably the Nari O Shishu Nirbutton Daman Ain (Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act), the state provides severe punitive measures for attempted assault and witness intimidation, underscoring the vital need for institutional safeguards for victims in rural areas.