Rajshahi, Mar 13 (V7N) – A 25-year-old man has been apprehended by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Rajshahi in connection with a rape case that occurred over multiple dates. Habibul Hasan Hasib was arrested in the Sultanabad Bedarpara area of Rajshahi city early Tuesday morning, according to a press release issued by RAB-5.

Hasib, a resident of Bajrapur village in Paba upazila, is accused of raping a 24-year-old woman on two separate occasions: March 10, 2020, and July 11, 2022. According to RAB, Hasib had established a romantic relationship with the victim. He allegedly lured her to a private residence under the pretense of taking a walk along the Padma River, where he, along with two accomplices, committed the assaults.

Following the incidents, when the victim pressured Hasib to marry her, he reportedly fled his home, changed his mobile phone SIM card, and ceased all communication. The victim subsequently filed a formal complaint with the Boalia Police Station in Rajshahi.

"The accused had been evading arrest since the case was filed," stated the RAB press release issued on the afternoon of March 12. "He has now been arrested and handed over to the Boalia Police Station."

Authorities are continuing their efforts to apprehend Hasib's two alleged accomplices. The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of sexual assault cases in Bangladesh, with law enforcement agencies facing increased pressure to ensure swift and decisive action.

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