Widow files case against Jamaat leader over rape, forced abortion

A case has been filed against the president of the Patuakhali Sadar Upazila Jubo Jamaat, Md Shahidul Islam, on allegations of repeatedly raping a widow under the false promise of marriage and, later forcing her to undergo an abortion through intimidation.

Adv Md Humayun Kabir, complainant's lawyer, confirmed the matter on Wednesday.

The court has taken cognisance of the complaint and directed the Officer in-Charge of Patuakhali Sadar Police Station to take necessary legal action.

According to the court sources, the accused has been in hiding since the case was filed.

According to the case statement, the woman filed the case with the Patuakhali Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on July 22, naming Shahidul Islam as the sole accused.

Tribunal Judge Shirin Nila accepted the complaint and ordered the police to proceed in accordance with the law.

Accused Md Shahidul Islam serves as president of the local Jubo Jamaat unit and is also the office secretary of the Patuakhali Welfare Foundation.

According to the first information report (FIR), the complainant's husband died about seven years ago, after which she had been living at her father's home with her only child.

The complaint alleges that Shahidul Islam repeatedly made inappropriate advances towards her. When she rejected them, he allegedly proposed marriage and assured her that he would also take responsibility for her child.

The FIR states that on March 24, Shahidul allegedly took the woman to his sister's residence on Sher-e-Bangla Road in Patuakhali town, where he confined her in a room and raped her. The complaint further alleges that he later raped her on several occasions by threatening and intimidating her.

The woman subsequently became pregnant, according to the complaint. It alleges that although she refused to terminate the pregnancy, the accused took her to a clinic on May 18 under the pretext of medical treatment. There, she was allegedly forced to take medication through intimidation. The following day, after regaining consciousness, she was informed that her baby had no more.

Adv Md Humayun Kabir said the case accuses the suspect of luring the woman with a promise of marriage, repeatedly raping her through intimidation, and later forcing her to undergo an abortion.