The key accused in the rape of a 25-year-old former private university student in Savar was arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) early today (20 October).

Sohel Rozario, 37, was apprehended from the Nagori Bazar area under Kaliakair Police Station in Gazipur at around 3:30am, confirmed a DB press release.

A resident of Kamlapur area in Savar's Birulia union, Sohel is the key accused in the case. After being handed over to Savar Model Police Station, he was sent to court today with a request for a seven-day remand.

"We conducted a raid in Nagori, Gazipur, last night and arrested Sohel Rozario, the main accused in the university student rape case," said Md Jalal Uddin, officer-in-charge of the local DB. "He has been transferred to Savar Model Police Station."

The investigating officer (IO) of the case, Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Abdul Wahab of Savar Model Police Station, confirmed that the arrested accused was sent to court today with a seven-day remand plea.

The arrest of Sohel Rozario marks the capture of the second of the three accused in the case. 

Yesterday morning, Savar Model Police arrested Mithu Biswas, 35, who was later placed on a two-day remand by a Dhaka court.

Mithu and the third accused, Biplob Rozario, 40, who is absconding, are accused of assisting in the crime.

According to the case statement, the victim, a former Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) student, was returning to her Savar residence after a private tuition session on the evening of 14 October when she encountered Sohel Rozario.

Sohel and his two accomplices allegedly followed the woman. Around 7pm, Sohel forcibly took her into his house, where he raped her while the other two assisted. He also threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident.

The victim filed the case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act on Thursday night (16 October).

General students of BUP and Jahangirnagar University unit of the Chhatra Dal have issued strong condemnations of the "brutal and heinous act," with JU Chhatra Dal staging a sit-in protest demanding the immediate arrest and swift trial of all involved.

BUP / Gang Rape / BUP student rape / Savar / rape