Louhajang (Munshiganj) Correspondent

A housewife was allegedly gang-raped in Padma Char while boarding a trawler from the Mawa Puratan Ferry Ghat in Louhajang Upazila of Munshiganj on her way to her in-laws' house.

The incident took place on Sunday evening in the uninhabited Domrakhali Char of the Padma River.

That night, the victim lodged a complaint at the Padma Bridge North Police Station. The next day, the police accepted the complaint as a case. As of Thursday, February 20, three accused in the case have been arrested.

A press release from the Munshiganj District Police said, the three arrested are - Md. Jamal Molla (23), Jabbar Sheikh (18) and Yamin Munshi (19). Another accused Abu Bakar Siddique (22) is still absconding.

According to the district police press release and the police station case, the victim housewife (22) was waiting for a boat at the old ferry pier in Mawa to go to her in-laws' funeral at Uttar Char in Shibchar upazila. At that time, Abu Bakar Siddique and Jamal Molla got her on a trawler, promising to take her. Some time later, Yamin and Jabbar also got on the trawler. At around 6:30 in the evening, four men gang-raped her in the unpopulated Domrakhali area of the Padma River. Later, at around 9:00 in the night, they made her get off the trawler near the old Coast Guard Station in Mawa and threatened her not to tell anyone and fled. Later that night, the victim woman filed a complaint with the Padma Bridge North Police Station.

Padma Bridge (North) Police Station OC Md. Zakir Hossain said, on Sunday, February 18, a woman along with her husband appeared at the police station and filed a written complaint alleging that she was gang-raped by four youths. Following the complaint, the police station immediately inspected the scene and verified the truth of the incident. A case was registered at the police station the next day, Monday.

On Monday night, police arrested the accused Jamal Molla from the banks of the Padma River at Jashaldia and Kabutarkhola in the Padma Bridge North Police Station area.

On Wednesday night, the other two accused Yamin and Jabbar were also caught by the police. The OC said that another accused is absconding. An operation is underway to arrest him. Meanwhile, Munshiganj Police Superintendent Muhammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar said, the three arrested confessed to their guilt in the court and gave statements under Section 164.

Later, they were sent to jail. The boat used in the incident and a geo bag have been seized as evidence. In addition, the victim has been medically examined and the clothes he used have been seized.