Zila parishad candidate raped during campaign

A court sent five people to jail yesterday on charges of raping a member candidate of the Rajshahi Zila Parishad election, slated for October 17.

The five -- Mohammad Mahbub, 28, Mohammad Sohel Rana, 23, Md Akbar Hossain, 35, Md Dulal Hossain, 25, and Mohammad Fazlu Mandal, 48 -- were arrested after the member candidate filed a case against them with Bagmara Police Station on September 15.

According to the case, the member candidate was returning from an election campaign when she was waylaid by the five in Bagmara upazila's Mahmingram village on September 7.

She was then taken to a house at gunpoint and raped by them.

Speaking to this correspondent, the victim said she did not know those who raped her but locals helped her identify them before filing the case.

Police, quoting her, said locals took her to hospital after she was left on the roadside by the rapists.

She was then admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital's one-stop crisis centre, where she was under treatment for seven days. After she was released, she filed the case.

Afzal Hossain, inspector of Hat Gangapara police investigation centre, said the victim filed a case with the police station, accusing three named and two unnamed people.

After primary interrogation, police found the names of the other two accused.

Speaking to this correspondent, the victim said, "They raped me to stop me from competing in the election."

Though her relatives accompanied her during the campaign that day, she was alone when the rape incident occurred, she added.

"Once the news [of the rape] broke, I was being questioned. I am now facing obstacles in my campaign."

In the last union parishad election, she was a member candidate for women's reserved seat, but was defeated.

She said some voters are sympathetic while others are disrespectful regarding the incident.

Contacted, Abul Hossain, assistant returning officer, said police have already taken action in this regard.

He added the member candidate began campaigning way ahead of the official date to begin electioneering, which is to start on September 26.

He said at least seven other women, including the victim, were competing from Ward-2 of the upazila.