Shibir leader Jisan not abducted: Police

Police said Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Jisan Pradhan Islami was not abducted, as previously alleged, but voluntarily went into hiding to avoid pressure to marry a woman who later filed a rape case against him.

Jisan, assistant secretary for International Affairs to the central committee of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir and ex-president of the organization's Cumilla (West) district unit, was recovered from the Laksam Railway Junction area of Cumilla at around 10pm on Friday.

Following his recovery, Jisan claimed he was abducted and transported in a vehicle. But police said their investigation found no evidence of kidnap, maintaining he had concealed himself voluntarily.

According to a press release issued by Cumilla Police, a woman alleged that Jisan raped her on May 20 at a rented residence in Daudkandi after promising marriage. The complaint further claims that she later became pregnant and underwent an abortion.

 Police said that when the woman pressed for marriage, Jisan initially agreed to marry her on Friday but later went into hiding on Thursday to avoid the commitment.

Investigators also alleged that a General Diary (GD) regarding Jisan's disappearance was filed through his cousin, Russell Ahmed, in an attempt to portray the incident as an abduction.

After Jisan was located, the woman filed a case at Daudkandi Model Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The case includes allegations of rape, assisting rape, and terminating a pregnancy. Jisan has been named the principal accused among four individuals listed in the case.

Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md. Anisuzzaman said that Jisan had not been abducted and had gone into hiding following allegations involving a woman.

Earlier, Jisan's family claimed that he went missing after offering Isha prayers at Daudkandi Model Mosque on Thursday night. His relatives said he was last active on WhatsApp at 8:29 p.m. before his phone was switched off.

The reported disappearance prompted concern from Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, who called for Jisan's swift recovery in a Facebook post. Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir also issued a statement describing him as missing.