A 32-year-old man has been arrested in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, after being accused of secretly recording an explicit video of a married woman and using it to blackmail her for money over several months.
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-9) arrested the suspect, Shahin Ali, during an operation in the Islampur area of Sreemangal Upazila on Monday, 6 July. On Tuesday morning, he was produced before a court and subsequently sent to jail after being shown arrested in a case filed under the Pornography Control Act.
According to RAB, Shahin Ali is the son of Shukkur Ali and a resident of Jalalia Road in Sreemangal municipality. Investigators said he operated a business selling various household goods from his residence, where the victim regularly purchased products.
RAB-9 Media Officer and Additional Superintendent of Police KM Shahidul Islam Sohag said the alleged incident dates back to 11 January this year. On that day, the woman reportedly bought a pair of shoes from Shahin. When she discovered that the shoes were too small, she returned to his house to exchange them.
Investigators allege that Shahin took advantage of the fact that no one else was present at the house. During the visit, he allegedly forced the woman into an objectionable act and secretly recorded the incident using his mobile phone.
The authorities said the accused later used the recording to threaten the victim, warning that he would circulate the video on social media unless she complied with his demands. According to investigators, the woman remained under sustained pressure for an extended period as Shahin allegedly used the footage to coerce her into further unethical acts.
As time passed, the victim reportedly pleaded with the accused to delete the video. Instead, Shahin allegedly demanded Tk 200,000, threatening to publish the footage online if the money was not paid. Under mounting pressure, the woman is said to have paid him Tk 50,000. Even after receiving that amount, investigators said he continued demanding the remaining money.
When the victim refused to make any further payment, Shahin allegedly carried out his threat by distributing the explicit video through social media platforms. The publication of the footage prompted the woman to seek legal action.
Following the incident, the victim filed a case with Sreemangal Police Station, accusing Shahin of blackmail, extortion and the unlawful dissemination of explicit material. Acting on the complaint, a team from the RAB-9 Sreemangal Camp launched an investigation and conducted an operation that led to the suspect’s arrest.
The case has been filed under the Pornography Control Act, which provides legal measures against the production, possession, distribution and publication of explicit material without consent. Law enforcement agencies have not disclosed additional details about the ongoing investigation, but officials indicated that further legal proceedings will continue in accordance with the law.
The incident highlights the growing concern over technology-enabled blackmail and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Such offences can have severe emotional, social and legal consequences for victims, while authorities continue to urge anyone facing similar threats to report the matter promptly to law enforcement agencies.
