Alleged Rape Threat on Victor Classic Bus Leaves Two in Custody

A disturbing incident on a public bus in Tongi, Gazipur, has reignited concerns over passenger safety—particularly for women—on Bangladesh’s urban transport network. Two men, including the driver of a Victor Classic bus, have been taken into police custody following allegations that a female passenger was threatened with rape during her journey. The episode later escalated into a violent assault on another passenger who protested against the driver’s conduct.

The matter was confirmed on Saturday, 3 January, by the Officer-in-Charge of West Tongi Police Station, Md Shahin Khan. According to the police, the bus driver and his assistant were detained on the day of the incident and, during preliminary interrogation, admitted to the occurrence. The bus involved has since been seized, and authorities have assured that legal proceedings will continue in accordance with the law.

According to the complaint filed by the victim’s family, the incident occurred on 1 January when the wife of Md Naim Islam—a student of the 16th batch of the History Department at Jagannath University—boarded the Victor Classic bus from the Uttara BNS area, heading towards Hossain Market in Tongi. She was seated in the reserved seat for women, adjacent to the driver.

The allegation states that after the woman identified herself as a member of a university student’s family, the driver began making provocative and indecent remarks. When the bus reached the traffic police box near Safiuddin Government Academy, Naim Islam attempted to record the situation on his mobile phone. At that point, the driver allegedly shoved him against the window and knocked the phone from his hand.

As tensions rose, the female passenger repeatedly asked the driver to stop the bus near the police box. Her request was reportedly ignored. When she began shouting for help, the driver allegedly threatened her with rape inside the bus—an accusation that has since drawn widespread outrage.

Another passenger, identified as Nurnabi, intervened in protest. This led to a physical altercation involving the driver, his assistant, and several passengers. Eventually, the bus was stopped at Hossain Market, where fellow passengers helped the woman disembark safely. However, after most passengers had left, Nurnabi was allegedly attacked with iron rods by the driver, his assistant, and another individual, leaving him seriously injured.

Local residents later managed to detain the bus. While the main driver and his assistant initially fled, another driver was apprehended and handed over to the police. Subsequently, Md Naim Islam filed a case at West Tongi Police Station, accusing the suspects of issuing rape threats and attempting murder.

He further alleged that, around 3:30 a.m. following the incident, 15–20 individuals associated with the bus owners’ association came to the police station and attempted to intimidate him into withdrawing the case. He also claimed that the accused driver had been released on bail just four days earlier in connection with a narcotics case at Uttara East Police Station.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter monitoring of public transport staff and stronger enforcement of laws to ensure passenger safety, particularly for women.

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Authorities have reiterated that no one involved will be spared if the allegations are proven, as public confidence in safe transport remains at stake.