RAB have arrested Shahadul Islam, 40, the fugitive accused in a rape case. Photo: BSS

DINAJPUR, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested Shahadul Islam, 40, the fugitive accused in a rape case involving a mentally challenged woman in Ghoraghat upazila of the district.

Senior Assistant Director (Public Relations) of Dinajpur RAB-13 Camp and Additional Superintendent of Police Biplob Kumar Goswami confirmed the arrest in a press release issued at 2:30 pm today.

According to the statement, RAB conducted a raid at the accused's residence in Balgari Gopalpur village under Ghoraghat upazila on Tuesday morning and apprehended him. Shahadul Islam is the son of Ahad Ali of the same village.

The case statement alleges that on the evening of January 28, the accused forcibly raped the victim after finding her alone at home while her husband was out for work. Upon returning home and learning of the incident, the victim's husband found that Shahadul had fled the area.

Following a complaint filed by the victim's family, a rape case was registered at Ghoraghat Police Station. Since the incident, the accused had been in hiding.

Dinajpur RAB Company Commander Squadron Leader Ashraful Kabir said that law enforcement agencies launched an operation to apprehend the accused immediately after the case was filed. "With the help of information technology, we were able to trace his location and conduct a successful operation," he said.

After his arrest, Shahadul Islam was handed over to Ghoraghat Police Station at around 2:30 pm on Tuesday.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ghoraghat Police Station, Inspector Md. Shahidul Islam said the arrested accused Shahadul will be handed over to the Dinajpur Senior Judicial Magistrate Court by Tuesday evening.