Man accused of targeting women through fake social media identities arrested

Police say at least 13 women were victims of “rape, forced pornography and fraud” over the past month

Police have arrested a man in Dhaka’s Jatrabari on allegations of luring women through social media, then raping, blackmailing and defrauding them.

The suspect, 30-year-old Rashedul Islam Rabbi, was detained on Monday evening in front of Donia College in Jatrabari, police said on Wednesday.

Police say he is a “serial sexual offender” or “serial rapist”, and allege that at least 13 women were victims of rape, forced pornography and fraud over the past month.

They added that 10 victims have been identified, most from Mirpur. Three cases and four general diaries have been filed with different police stations.

At a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre, Wari Division Deputy Commissioner Molla Ahsan Uddin Sami said Rabbi is from Sreenagar in Munshiganj but lived at his in-laws’ house in Narayanganj.

He reportedly had no legitimate income, and money extorted from victims was his only source of earnings.

Police said Rabbi posed as a woman online to build trust with other women, then took control of victims’ phones and social media accounts.

Using those accounts, he allegedly contacted more women while mimicking a female voice.

He lured victims by promising gifts and arranging meetings, later sending himself disguised as a “cousin” when he claimed he could not come.

Victims were taken to two rented houses in Jatrabari used as his base, police said.

There, he allegedly raped victims, recorded pornographic videos under threat and extorted money, gold and mobile phones by blackmailing them.

Police said one case involving a fake “landlord’s son” identity helped trace him after a victim reported losing her phone.

Rabbi reportedly admitted involvement with at least 13 women in the past month, though police suspect the number may be higher.