Rajshahi healer arrested following sexual assault allegations

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Police in the Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi have arrested a traditional healer, Mahabur Rahman, following allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman seeking treatment for infertility. The 48-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Saturday night after an agitated crowd surrounded his residence, demanding justice for the victim.

The 27-year-old complainant, a resident of the neighboring Mohanpur upazila, had been visiting the healer’s home for roughly a month and a half. According to the victim, she was undergoing a three-month treatment plan when the incident occurred on Saturday evening. She alleged that Rahman lured her into a private room under the pretext of performing a ritual, at which point he began to molest her. When she resisted and attempted to flee, the healer allegedly obstructed her path and claimed the actions were a necessary component of the medical process.

The situation escalated when the woman began screaming for help, drawing the attention of neighbors and local residents. As hundreds gathered outside the property in protest, Rahman retreated to the second floor of his home to evade the crowd. Authorities from the Taherpur police investigation center initially arrived to stabilize the scene, but backup from the Bagmara police station was required to safely extract the victim and apprehend the suspect around 9:00 p.m.

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The arrest triggered a tense confrontation, as members of the crowd attempted to intercept the police vehicle to take matters into their own hands. Local residents described Rahman as a long-time practitioner who operated a makeshift clinic on the ground floor of his home. Records indicate this is not his first encounter with law enforcement; he was previously detained by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-5) in 2023 for similar offenses, though he had resumed his practice after securing bail.

Bagmara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zillur Rahman confirmed that a case has been filed against Rahman under Section 10 of the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act. The suspect is scheduled to be produced before a court on Sunday.