A BNP leader in Netrokona’s Kendua upazila has been expelled from the party after a schoolgirl accused him of repeatedly raping her and threatening to circulate recordings of the alleged abuse on social media.
Rafiqul Islam Bhuiyan Bakul, who was named as the prime accused in a case filed over the allegations, has been relieved of all party positions as well as his primary membership of the BNP. Kendua municipal BNP announced the decision on Wednesday night (26 August).
The decision was communicated through a notice signed by the president and general secretary of the Kendua municipal BNP. The notice cited allegations of involvement in immoral activities and violation of party discipline as the grounds for the organisational action.
According to police and the case statement, the victim is currently a Class 10 student. The allegations date back to November 2022, when she was allegedly subjected to sexual abuse on multiple occasions.
The case statement alleges that the accused initially recorded footage of the abuse. The girl was then allegedly threatened with having the footage circulated on social media if she disclosed the incidents. The threat was allegedly used to subject her to repeated sexual assault. The case also alleges that other individuals were involved in abusing her.
The victim’s family has claimed that the prolonged abuse eventually resulted in her becoming pregnant. According to the family, she is currently around six months pregnant.
The family reportedly became aware of the alleged abuse after footage involving the girl was circulated on social media. Following the discovery, her father filed a case at Kendua Police Station late on Tuesday night (25 August).
The case has been filed under provisions of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and the Pornography Control Act. Five people have been named in the case, with another three to four unidentified individuals also accused.
Police launched an operation to arrest those named in the case soon after it was filed. Abu Mia, the second accused, was arrested during the operation. He was later produced before a court, which ordered that he be sent to jail.
The prime accused, Bakul, and the other accused remain at large, police said. Efforts are continuing to locate and arrest them.
Kendua Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Tariqul Islam said Abu Mia was arrested shortly after the case was filed. Police were also conducting operations to apprehend the remaining accused, he said.
Authorities said the allegations were being investigated and that further legal action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
The allegations made in the case have not yet been established through judicial proceedings. Their legal validity will ultimately depend on the investigation and the court process.
