Housewife ‘gang-raped’, case filed against five men

Gopalganj, Bangladesh — A shocking incident of gang rape has been reported in Kashiani upazila, Gopalganj, where a housewife was allegedly abducted at gunpoint while travelling on an auto-rickshaw to her sister’s home. The attack took place on Saturday, 10 January, around 7:00 pm, at Ghonapara Bazar.

The victim, a resident of Baliyadanga village in Maheshpur Union, is a mother of one. According to the complaint, she was forcibly taken by the assailants to the second floor of a building, stripped, and threatened with firearms and drugs while being coerced into explicit acts that were recorded on camera. The perpetrators allegedly used the threat of sharing these images online to intimidate her, and then repeatedly assaulted her.

In response, the victim filed a case with the Gopalganj Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, naming five individuals and an additional four to five unknown assailants. On Monday, the tribunal formally accepted the complaint and directed the officer-in-charge of Kashiani Police Station to register the case and proceed with legal action.

The accused are listed as follows:

Advocate Jaber Alam Molla, representing the victim, confirmed the filing of the case.

Kashiani Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman stated, “Once we receive the court order, necessary legal measures will be taken.” Authorities have yet to apprehend all the accused, and the investigation is ongoing.

This incident has sparked widespread outrage in the local community, highlighting concerns over the safety of women travelling alone, particularly in rural areas. Local residents and human rights activists have called for swift justice and stronger preventive measures to ensure women’s security.

The tribunal’s prompt acceptance of the case marks a critical step towards accountability, though law enforcement faces challenges in apprehending all suspects and preventing further dissemination of the threatening material online.