A local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) official has been remanded in custody following his arrest for allegedly stalking and intimidating a young woman in Patuakhali’s Dumki upazila. Residents detained the suspect late on Monday night before handing him over to law enforcement officers.
The accused, 60-year-old Aminul Islam, serves as the general secretary for a local union unit of the BNP and is a sitting member of the Union Parishad. According to police sources and the complainant’s family, Mr Islam had been persistently harassing the young woman via mobile phone calls and making improper advances over an extended period.
The situation escalated when the politician reportedly contacted the victim on Monday evening, demanding a meeting under the guise of allocating rice from the government’s Food-Friendly Programme—a state initiative intended to provide subsidized grain to low-income rural households. When the woman refused his requests, Mr Islam allegedly attempted to use his political influence and local authority to coerce her.
Alerted by the persistent harassment, the woman informed her family and neighbors about the intimidation. Unaware that the household had been alerted, Mr Islam arrived at the victim’s property late that night and concealed himself near the premises. Family members and local residents discovered him on the grounds, restrained him with chains, and notified the Dumki Police Station.
A police team subsequently arrived at the scene, rescued the accused from the crowd, and took him into official custody.
Speaking about the ordeal, the victim confirmed she had lodged a formal complaint under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act—the primary legal framework governing sexual harassment, stalking, and violence against women in Bangladesh.
Selim Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Dumki Police Station, verified that law enforcement responded to calls from the public and secured the suspect. Following the registration of the case, police presented Mr Islam before a local court on Tuesday, which ordered him sent to prison pending further judicial proceedings.
