Police detain three over overnight ‘rape’ of student on moving bus

The suspects are arrested near the Karotia Underpass area on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway

A college student has alleged that she was raped overnight by a group on a moving bus in Tangail Sadar, leading police to detain three people, including the driver and his assistant.

Elenga Highway Police chief Md Sharif said the suspects were detained on Thursday afternoon near the Karotia Underpass on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway.

He said the woman is currently at the Tangail District Police superintendent’s office and that a Savar Paribahan bus has been seized in connection with the incident.

The detainees were identified as bus driver Md Altaf, 25, his assistant Md Sagar, 24, and Md Rabbi, 21.

According to the officer, the 26-year-old student of a Dhaka college boarded the bus around 11:30pm on Wednesday from the Radio Colony, heading towards Ashulia. Two passengers were already on the bus at the time.

After those passengers got off, the suspects allegedly confined the woman, took her gold jewellery, cash and mobile phone, drove the bus to various locations, assaulted her overnight and recorded videos.

On Thursday afternoon, police grew suspicious after seeing the bus standing on the Dhaka-bound lane near the Karotia Underpass.

During questioning, officers searched the bus and found the woman inside. Based on her complaint, the driver and his two aides were detained, police said.