3 held for attempted rape on moving bus in Ashulia

Three persons, including a bus driver and helper were held by the police for allegedly attempting to rape a female passenger on a moving bus of Savar Paribahan in Ashulia, Savar. 

Mohammed Tariqul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ashulia Police Station, confirmed the arrests on Monday afternoon.

The arrestees have been identified as bus driver Md. Imran, 35, his assistant Md. Musfequr Rahman Joni, 20, and Md. Suman Pramanik, 30, an acquaintance of the driver. A case has been filed against them under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

Police sources said that the woman boarded the bus from Gabtoli bus stand in Dhaka around 1:30AM on Saturday night to Nabinagar in Savar. Before reaching Nabinagar, driver Imran handed the steering wheel to his assistant Musfequr. 

Later, Imran assaulted Rubel, a male companion traveling with the woman, threatened to kill him, and forced him off the bus in the Sreepur area.

At one point, Imran also got off the bus. At that time, Musfequr and Suman Pramanik remained inside the bus. Musfequr then attempted to rape the woman inside the moving bus with Suman's assistance. Meanwhile, Rubel called the national emergency service number 999 to report the incident to the police.

Upon receiving the information, a team from Ashulia Police Station launched an operation and intercepted the Savar Paribahan bus by creating a barricade with another bus in the Baraipara bus stand area of Ashulia. 

Police subsequently rescued the woman from the bus and detained Musfequr and Suman along with the vehicle.

The victim filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act regarding the incident. Later, around 3:30PM on Sunday, a police team conducted an operation and arrested Imran from the Baraipara area of Ashulia.

Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammed Tariqul Islam said that after learning about the matter through the national emergency service 999, several police teams conducted drives, rescued the woman, and detained Musfequr and Suman.

He added that the victim filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act following the incident. Later on Sunday night, bus driver Imran was arrested from the Baraipara area of Ashulia. On Monday afternoon, driver Imran was sent to court.

Process is underway to send the arrestees to jail through the court.

-OF/SA