Manikganj, Bangladesh — Two members of the Ansar force have been arrested on allegations of raping a woman by threatening her while on night duty at the 250-bed Manikganj Sadar Hospital.
The arrested Ansar personnel have been identified as Shahadat Hossain and Abu Sayeed. Their arrests were confirmed by Manikganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Sarwar Alam.
How the Incident Allegedly Unfolded
According to police, the incident took place between approximately 3:30 am and 4:30 am late Monday night inside the Manikganj Sadar Hospital premises.
SP Alam said the victim and her husband were traveling from Narayanganj to her grandfather’s house in Manikganj in their own battery-powered van. At around 1:30 am, the vehicle’s charge ran out, forcing them to stop in front of the hospital.
The couple then spoke with two Ansar members on duty at the hospital gate. The officers reportedly advised them to go inside the hospital building. Once inside, the on-duty Ansar members began questioning the couple, including asking whether they were legally married, police said.
The two Ansar members then took the woman to the second floor of the hospital, leaving her husband downstairs with another Ansar member.
Police: Husband Deliberately Delayed
Investigators say that at one point, one of the Ansar members who had been upstairs with the woman went downstairs and took her husband away on the pretext of buying food, while the other Ansar member remained with the woman on the second floor.
SP Alam stated that, based on the preliminary investigation, the Ansar members deliberately changed locations and delayed the husband with malicious intent.
When the husband eventually returned upstairs and saw his wife, he became suspicious about what had happened. After the couple left the hospital premises, the victim later informed patrolling police officers about the incident.
Complaint, Arrests, and Victim’s Condition
SP Alam said the woman was initially too frightened to reveal the details to her husband. Later, she reported to police that she had been forcibly raped.
Following her statement, police moved to detain the two accused Ansar members, Shahadat Hossain and Abu Sayeed, who were subsequently arrested in connection with the allegations.
The victim has since received medical treatment at a One-Stop Crisis Centre and is currently in a state of trauma, according to the police superintendent.
Case Yet to Be Formally Filed
As of the latest reports, no formal case has been filed yet. Police said the case will be officially lodged once the victim’s guardian—her grandfather—arrives and completes the necessary procedures.
Law enforcement officials have stated that further legal action will follow based on the victim’s formal complaint and the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Legal and Ethical Note
The allegations against the arrested Ansar members have not yet been proven in court. Under the law, the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The identity of the victim is being withheld to protect her privacy and dignity.
Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation into the incident, while rights advocates and local residents are expected to closely follow developments in this case.
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