A garment worker has accused four men of gang-raping her in Sreepur, Gazipur, after allegedly confining her husband in an adjoining room. The woman claimed that the accused threatened to kill them and kept watch around their home following the incident, leaving the couple afraid to leave the house for two days. They eventually sought legal assistance with the help of relatives.
The 20-year-old woman is originally from Sherpur and lives in a rented house in the Hanu Market area of Gazipur Union under Sreepur upazila. She works at an industrial facility belonging to the DBL Group, while her husband lives with her.
According to the woman, the couple had been renting a house owned by a man named Harun Ar Rashid for the past six months. Following a recent rise in thefts in the neighbourhood, they decided to move elsewhere. On Monday, they paid the landlord three months’ rent in advance and began preparing to move their belongings.
The woman alleged that, while they were making arrangements to leave, two local youths, identified as Faruk and Nayan, came to their home and forcibly took her husband away. He returned later in the evening after being gone for some time.
At around 8.30pm, or shortly afterwards, Faruk and Nayan allegedly returned with two unidentified men and entered the couple’s home. The four men allegedly assaulted the woman’s husband and confined him in an adjoining room.
The woman claimed that Faruk demanded that she comply with their instructions, citing money he allegedly claimed was owed by her husband. When she refused, Faruk, Nayan and another man allegedly tied her hands. She further alleged that the men held a sharp knife to her throat, tied her legs and raped her in succession.
According to her account, she repeatedly pleaded with the men to stop, but they continued the assault.
The woman said nobody from the surrounding area came to her rescue during the incident. She also alleged that the accused remained near the house afterwards, making her afraid to approach the police immediately.
Fearing further violence, the couple remained inside their home for two days, according to their account. The woman said the threats and the presence of the alleged perpetrators around the property prevented them from leaving to seek help.
They eventually informed relatives, who came to the house and helped them approach the police.
The woman’s husband said he had been beaten and held in the adjoining room while the assault was taking place. He was allegedly told that his wife had gone out to collect money. He claimed that the men returned at different times to assault him.
He said he later realised that his wife had also been subjected to violence. When he attempted to leave the house to seek justice, the accused allegedly threatened to kill him. The couple subsequently went to the police station with assistance from relatives.
Mohammad Shahinur Alam, officer-in-charge of Sreepur Police Station, said he had instructed the station’s inspector (investigation) to take the necessary legal steps after learning about the incident.
Details regarding the filing of a formal case, the arrest of the accused and the progress of the investigation were not immediately available.
The allegations have raised concerns about the safety of the couple and their access to legal protection. A thorough investigation will be necessary to establish the facts, identify those responsible and ensure that appropriate legal action is taken if the allegations are substantiated.
