'Serial rapist' arrested; police say he used victims' phones to lure others

A "serial rapist" accused of targeting women using victims' phones and social media accounts has been arrested in Dhaka's Jatrabari.

Police disclosed the information at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre today (15 April).

The accused, Rashedul Islam Rabbi, 30, was arrested around 7pm on 13 April in front of Donia College under Jatrabari Police Station, said Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Wari Division, Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami.

Police recovered five mobile phones belonging to five victims from his possession at the time of arrest.

According to the police official, the accused posed as a woman and built relationships with young women aged between 18 and 20 by speaking in a female voice over the phone.

He would then lure them to meet under various pretexts, including exchanging gifts, and take them to secluded locations.

There, he trapped the victims, recorded nude videos, and used those to blackmail them before raping them. He also took away their mobile phones and cash, later selling the stolen items.

Police said he first blackmailed a victim and took control of her mobile phone and social media accounts, which he then used to contact other women from her friend list while posing as the same person.

The official said two houses in the Donia College area of Jatrabari were used to carry out the crimes. Victims were taken there, blackmailed and, in many cases, raped. He also took cash, mobile phones, and gold ornaments from them.

By threatening to spread the recorded videos on social media or upload them to porn sites, he forced victims into repeated sexual acts and regularly extorted money.

Police arrested him following a general diary filed over a missing mobile phone. Although he was initially detained based on one complaint, more allegations later emerged.

So far, police have received 10 complaints of a similar nature, while the accused admitted involvement in 13 incidents during interrogation, police said.

Replying to a question, the official said that on 20 March at around 1:20pm, the accused took a victim to an under-construction building under the pretext of a family meeting. Upon arrival, he intimidated her, forced her to undress, and recorded a video.

He later threatened to distribute the video on porn platforms and Telegram and pressured her into continued sexual relations. Using that victim's phone, he then contacted another woman from her friend list.

On 6 April, he called the second victim to the fourth floor of an under-construction building near Goyalbari intersection in Jatrabari, claiming to deliver clothes. She was held for about two hours, raped, and had her mobile phone and cash taken.

DC Ahsan Sami said many victims, fearing social stigma, concealed the incidents and only filed general diaries over lost phones. Police gradually identified the victims through those GDs.

So far, three cases have been filed against the accused, and at least four general diaries have been recorded. Most of the victims are aged between 18 and 20 and are residents of Mirpur.

The police official said the accused was skilled in using technology, making it difficult to arrest him. He also has a previous case of a similar nature filed with Kadamtali Police Station. Police are investigating whether others were involved.

The official further said the accused married a woman using the same method.