Rape, blackmail allegation: DU student ordered to surrender within 30-day

The High Court has rejected the bail petition of Tasmeem Mahid Chanchal, a student of Dhaka University, accused of raping a fellow student on multiple occasions on the promise of marriage and blackmailing her with intimate photographs, directing him to surrender before the trial court within 30 days of receiving a copy of the verdict.

The court warned that if he fails to surrender within the stipulated period, the trial court may decide on his arrest in accordance with the law. 

The accused had earlier obtained bail on the expectation that the dispute would be settled through mediation.

A High Court bench, comprising Justice Md Khairul Alam and Justice Md Rafiqul Islam, delivered the verdict, which was published on October 12.

Lawyer Sajib Chandra Banik represented the accused, while lawyer Shikdar Gulzar Ahmed appeared for the complainant, who is also a University of Dhaka student.
Allegations of rape and blackmail

According to the case statement and the court's observations, the complainant became involved in a romantic relationship with Chanchal after they met on Facebook.

The complainant alleged that Chanchal took her to the smoking zone of a restaurant in Dhaka's Dhanmondi area, where he raped her on the promise of marriage. He allegedly took intimate photographs of her without her knowledge and used them to blackmail her into continuing the relationship.

Later, at midnight on August 31, 2025, the complainant went to a hotel in Dhanmondi at Chanchal's persuasion. The case statement alleges that they had sexual relations there after he again promised to marry her.

According to the complaint, Chanchal subsequently began avoiding her and threatened that his family would not accept their relationship when she raised the prospect of marriage.

The complainant later submitted a written complaint to the university authorities. A mediation date was set for October 15, 2025, but Chanchal allegedly refused to marry her.

On October 18, 2025, the complainant filed a case with Dhanmondi Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

Case documents show that the complainant underwent a medical examination on October 20, 2025. The report noted evidence of sexual intercourse but stated that the findings did not establish that it had occurred recently or by force.

A medical board estimated the complainant's age to be around 20.

Following its investigation, police submitted a chargesheet against Chanchal under Section 9(b) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.