A Jubo League leader of Sandwip upazila under Chattogram district allegedly raped a college girl on 30 July. However, she claimed that police refused to register the case using different excuses.

The 17-year-old victim finally filed the case accusing JL leader Md Ferdous, 45, also a union parishad member, his associates Surma Begum and 10 to 12 other unidentified persons with the court of Women And Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3, Chattogram yesterday.

Taking the case into cognizance, Judge Jannatul Ferdous of the tribunal ordered Sandwip Police Station to treat the case as an FIR, said the victim's lawyer Abdullah Al Farhad.

The prime accused-- Ferdous-- is president of Sandwip Santoshpur union JL unit, a follower of Sandwip's lawmaker Mahfuzur Rahman Mita, said locals and police adding that the culprit had made a video of the rape and also took picture.

The victim's family members said though the police had not registered the case, they arrested the accused on Thursday after photos of the incident went viral and produced him before the court under section 54 of the Criminal Procedure.

According to the case statement, the victim sought help from the UP member to get a job and the accused asked her to meet and discuss the matter at the house of Surma Begum on July 30. Later, he confined the victim to a room of the house and raped her. Ferdous also allegedly gave Tk 5,000 to Surma for the use of her.

Ferdous pointed a knife at the victim and forced her to take a liquid medicine which made her weak and then he raped her at the house for two hours, said the statement.

During the time, Surma filmed the rape and also took pictures.

Speaking to The Daily Star, the victim said, “After regaining consciousness, I went to my mother and informed her of the matter. My mother then took me and fled to my grandfather's house, fearing further attacks on me.

“I took treatment at Sandwip Upazila Health Complex the following day, but did not tell the doctors about the rape incident as I was feeling ashamed.

“As my family was feeling insecure, I did not go to the police station that time and hid myself.”

The case statements also said Ferdous later circulated the video on the internet and among locals. On September 20, he went to the victim's residence and tried to harass her.

On September 25, the accused, along with 10 to 12 other men, went to victim's grandfather's house and tried to kidnap her but failed to do so.

“After the video was uploaded on the internet, I went to the police station to file a complaint but the Officer-in-Charge MD Shahjahan refused to file the case and told me that I willingly went to the JL leader.”

Brushing the allegation aside, OC Shahjahan told The Daily Star, “Seeing the video on the internet and getting an order from superiors, police arrested Ferdous two days ago and produced him before the court under section 54.

“We asked the victim family to file the case, but they did not come to police station,” he claimed, adding that after getting the complaint, the police will show the accused as arrested in the case.