A mentally unsound woman was raped at Nalitabari upazila in Sherpur district.
The incident occurred last Thursday night at Barmari Bazar in Poragaon union of the upazila in the district.
A case has been lodged with Nalitabari Police Station on Sunday. Later, the victim was rescued and sent to Sherpur Hospital for a medical examination.
The accused Jalal Mia, 35, a resident of Burunga Kalapani village in the Upazila, has been absconding since the incident.
According to reports, the mentally unsound woman, 28, arrived at Barmari Bazar approximately 2-3 months ago.
Her identity remains unknown and she is unable to disclose her name or address. She has been spending her days wandering and her nights sleeping on the belcony of various shops in the market.
Local traders said that many of them would offer food to the mentally unsound woman. Last Thursday at around 2 AM Jalal allegedly raped the woman. At that time, market guards caught Jalal red-handed.
Locals also claimed that the accused Jalal Mia is influential and no one dares to speak against him.
Despite being caught red-handed, he was reportedly released on the instructions of a local influential person.
Meanwhile, a video of Jalal Mia being apprehended and assaulted has circulated on social media.
Eventually, upon receiving the information, the police brought the victim to the police station last Saturday night.
Rezaul Karim, one of the market guards, filed a case at the police station in connection with the incident. Confirming the veracity of the incident, Nalitabari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Sohel Rana stated that the mentally unsound rape victim has been sent to Sherpur Hospital for a medical examination. A case has been filed and police efforts are ongoing to arrest the accused Jalal Mia, the OC added.
