Alleged ‘serial rapist’ held in Jatrabari

A man identified as Rashedul Islam Rabbi (30) has been arrested in Dhaka on allegations of sexually assaulting multiple women after befriending them through Facebook, reportedly while posing as a woman.

Police said the arrest was made on Monday evening from the Donia area under Jatrabari Police Station following a complaint from a victim.

Acting on the complaint, law enforcement conducted a raid and detained the suspect.

At a press briefing held on Wednesday at the DMP Media Centre, Wari Division Deputy Commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami stated that the accused is suspected of targeting young women over the past two months.

According to police, he allegedly lured victims with promises of gifts or meetings, then took them to isolated locations where he assaulted them.

Authorities further alleged that the suspect recorded some of the incidents and later used the material to blackmail victims, threatening to circulate private photos and videos online or on pornographic platforms.

Police also said he reportedly stole cash, mobile phones, and other valuables from victims during these incidents.

Investigators claim that he used similar methods to coerce repeated encounters with some victims and, in one instance, confined a woman in an under-construction building before assaulting her.

Police also said that at least 10 formal complaints have been filed so far, with all complainants reported to be from the Mirpur area and mostly students.

During the arrest, five mobile phones allegedly belonging to victims were recovered from his possession.

Officials added that the accused is facing multiple cases under the Pornography Control Act, and investigations are ongoing.