A speech-impaired woman was allegedly raped in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah after being lured with food, and her husband was later assaulted. The victim’s mother, Rahima Begum (55), widow of Abdus Sattar from Jaypur village in Monirampur, Jashore, filed a written complaint with the police.
According to the complaint, Rahima’s son Milon and his wife Asma Khatun (22), both speech-impaired, survive through begging. During the Durga Puja period, they travelled to Mandarbariya Union in Maheshpur to seek alms. Each night, the couple would sleep wherever they could find shelter.
One evening in Batanagachi area, a local youth, Tariqul Islam (28), son of Ohidul Islam from the same village, approached them. He bought Asma food and, offering further temptations, took her to a nearby teak garden where he allegedly raped her.
Asma remained silent for days before disclosing the incident to her husband. On 10 October, when Milon confronted Tariqul at Mirzapur market, the accused reportedly attacked him.
Maheshpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam confirmed receiving the complaint and said legal action would follow upon investigation.
