DU student rape: Rab says suspect is a 'serial rapist'

--Arrestee Maznu caught from Sheora

--Maznu, a hawker, confessed to the crime

--Has a history of raping beggars, physically challenged women

-- Was involved in various petty crimes

The man who was arrested for raping a Dhaka University (DU) student claimed to be a "serial rapist", Rapid Action Battalion said today.

“He was identified as Maznu and had earlier raped beggars and physically challenged women. He is also a drug addict,” said Lt Col Md Sarwar-Bin-Quasem, director (Legal and Media) of Rab, at a press conference at the elite force's media centre in Kawran Bazar, Dhaka this afternoon.

A Rab team arrested the suspected rapist, Md Maznu, aged around 30, from Sheora rail crossing area in the wee hours of today following an overnight drive, the Rab official said.

They recovered a mobile phone set, power bank and the bag of the victim from the arrestee.

A hawker by profession, Maznu confessed to the crime and said that he raped the DU student on January 5.

He followed the student after she got down from the university bus and at one point grabbed her from the back, gagged her and took her to an isolated area before raping her, Rab said.

Maznu, a widower who hailed from Hatiya of Noakhali, came to Dhaka 10 years back to make a living and got involved in various crimes including mugging and stealing.

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On the day of incident, the rape accused had gone to Kurmitola General Hospital for treatment. He later lay in wait for a victim and eventually grabbed the DU student when she got down from the university bus, the Rab official said. 

Maznu also admitted to have acted alone and said he threatened the girl with death several times while raping her, Sarwar-Bin-Quashem told a room brimming with journalists from end to end.