Two housewives were "raped" in Bagerhat and Satkhira on Thursday. And the rapists were held, too, following cases filed by the victims.

In Bagerhat, 28-year-old Jewel Mollah forced his way through a woman's living room window late on Thursday night.

The woman, whose husband "is now in jail for an alleged crime," was fast asleep at that time, said Morelganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Monirul Islam.

Hearing the woman screaming, deep at night, the locals rushed to the spot and caught Jewel. Later they handed him over to the police.

Jewel, son of Md Razzak Mollah of Hoglapasha Maheshpura village, was arrested on charges of rape, on the complaint of the woman filed with Morelganj Police station.

He was produced before the Bagerhat court early Friday and remanded in judicial custody.

"The housewife alleged that two other unknown men were the rapist's partners in crime, too. We have already started investigating into the case," Monirul said.

In Satkhira, 38-year-old Nawab Ali has been "raping" a housewife for a long time by blackmailing her.

The victim said she informed her family members of this after the accused sexually assaulted her again on Thursday.

She then lodged a rape case with Debhata Police Station that day.

Police arrested Nawab, son of Akbar Gazi of Debhata upazila's Dakkhin Parulia village, on Thursday night.

Debhata Police Station Officer-in-Charge Biplab Kumar Saha said the rapist had already been sent to jail.

Read Also: Madrasa super held for 'raping' fourth-grader in Khulna

A Sundarbans-bound tourist launch capsized after getting stuck on a shoal of the River Pasur early Friday.

The launch had 33 tourists on board, but no casualty was reported, Tour Association of Sundarbans Joint Secretary General Majharul Haque said.

Tourist launch Discovery started toward Hiran Point on Thursday night with a team from Faridpur's Boalkhali. But it got stuck on a shoal in Batiaghata upazila's Katianangla, at 4am on Friday, due to low tide.

All the tourists managed to land on the shoal when the launch started to sink, Majharul said.

"The tourists finally canceled the trip and returned home early Friday."

Read Also: Padma boat capsize: Bodies of missing AIUB student, cousin found after 8 days

A woman living alone was allegedly raped in her house in Morelganj by a 28-year-old who forced his way through her living room window late on Thursday night. The accused has been arrested, police said.

The crime occurred post-midnight on Thursday night when the woman was fast asleep in her bedroom, police said, adding that her husband "is currently in jail for an alleged crime".

While the accused, identified as Jewel Mollah, was caught by local residents after the woman raised an alarm and handed over to police, two of his accomplices managed to flee. A medical examination of the rape survivor on Friday confirmed rape, police said.

Jewel, son of Md Razzak Mollah of Hoglapasha Maheshpura village, was arrested on charges of rape, on the complaint of the woman filed at the Morelganj Police station. He was produced in the Bagerhat court on Friday morning and remanded in judicial custody.

Read Also: Boyfriend ‘traps girl, rapes her for days along with friends’

Police on Thursday pressed charges against eight accused in a case filed over the gang rape of a woman at Sylhet MC College.

Investigation officer of the case Indranil Bhattacharya submitted the chargesheet before the Judge of Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court Abul Kashem, said additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police BM Ashrafullah Taher.

According to the police, they found the direct involvement of six people in the rape while two abated others in the crime.

The six chargesheeted accused who were directly involved in the crime are: Saifur Rahman, Shah Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Rony, Tariqul Islam Tarek, Arjun Laskar, Mohammad Ainuddin alias Ainul and Misbaul Islam Rajon.

The other chargesheeted accused are Rabiul Islam Hasan and Mahfuzur Rahman Masum.

On November 30, police received the DNA report of the MC College rape incident and found the involvement of some accused, arrested over the gang rape, in a DNA test.

The horrific incident

A group of youths tied up a man and raped his 19-year-old wife at a dormitory of MC College on September 25.

After police rescued the couple, the victim’s husband filed a case with Shahporan Police Station against nine people mentioning the names of six.

Law enforcers arrested eight people in this connection and they are now in police custody.

On September 30, the High Court formed an investigation committee to look into the incident.

Highest punishment for rape

The rape incident at MC college and another in Noakhali fuelled countrywide protests against sexual violence against women that prompted the government to amend the relevant law with a provision of capital punishment for rape.

The much-talked-about 'Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2020' was then passed in Parliament on November 17 for ensuring death penalty as the highest punishment for the heinous crime of rape.

MC College gang rape: DNA report shows involvement of some accused

A madrasa superintendent was arrested on Wednesday for "raping" a fourth-grader in Khulna' Paikgachha.

The 55-year-old Md Habibur Rahman is the superintendent of Lashkar-Paikgachha Islamia Dakhil Madrasa.

On Monday, Habibur asked the girl to go to the madrasa with an assignment, Paikgachha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ejaz Shafi said. 

"As the girl arrived, Habibur forcibly took the fourth-grader to his room and raped her."

The victim's grandmother filed a case with Paikgachha Police Station.

The child has been sent to Khulna Medical College and Hospital for medical tests, Ejaz said.

Law toughened but rape continues 

The introduction of the death penalty for rape cases has failed to curb such incidents in Bangladesh.

On November 17, parliament passed the Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Bill 2020 with the death penalty as the highest punishment for rape.

The move came following days of protests about the country's high level of sexual violence against women.

At least 1,000 rapes were reported in Bangladesh during January-September this year, according to Ain o

Salish Kendra (ASK).

Forty-five of the victims were killed after rape and 12 others took their own lives. 

Three women and nine men were killed for protesting against sexual harassment, ASK said.

Also read: Madrasa teacher arrested for ‘raping students’