A suspected serial sexual predator has been arrested in the capital’s Jatrabari area, with police uncovering a disturbing pattern of abuse, blackmail and exploitation involving at least 10 young victims within just six weeks, most of them from Mirpur area.
The arrest, made during a probe into a blackmail complaint, has exposed a wider network of crimes targeting women through deception, social media manipulation and coercion.
The arrestee was identified as Rashedul Islam Rabbi, 30, who had been living at his in-laws’ house in Siddhirganj of Narayanganj.
Tipped off, a special team of Jatrabari Police Station arrested him from Dania College Gate area on April 13.
The information was disclosed by Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Wari Division) Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre on Wednesday.
Briefing reporters, the DC said the investigation began with the arrest of the suspect following a complaint involving blackmail through secretly recorded video of a young woman. However, after the arrest, multiple information emerged.
“So far, we have received 10 complaints, while the accused has confessed to 13 incidents,” he said.
Police said the modus operandi was nearly identical in all cases. The accused would build trust with victims, then resort to blackmail. In some cases, rape occurred, while in others, victims were pressured using recorded videos.
Describing the method, the DC said the accused initially took control of a victim’s mobile phone and gained access to her social media accounts. He then used those accounts to contact other women from the victim’s friend list, gradually building relationships and luring them out with various pretexts.
He would sometimes pose as a relative and accompany victims in CNG-run auto-rickshaws or other transport. Victims were typically called to meet near metro stations or in the Bangladesh Secretariat area before being taken to two houses in the Dania College area of Jatrabari – one used during the day and another at night. The accused was eventually arrested from one of these houses.
After taking victims to the house, he would seize their phones, take control of their social media accounts, and later sell the devices. These accounts were then used to target new victims.
Police said the timeline of the incidents is relatively short, with the first general diary recorded on March 4 and the latest complaint on April 9.
Rabbi had no job and earned money through such crimes.
He allegedly collected gold ornaments, earrings, mobile phones, cash and even money from victims. Police have so far recovered five mobile phones and believe more may be recovered.
DC Sami said many victims initially filed GDs citing lost phones instead of formal complaint due to social stigma. Investigation later helped identify them. Similar GDs were also found at Mirpur Police Station.
So far, three cases have been filed against the accused, while three to four GDs remain under investigation. Police are also examining whether he had any associate, although initial findings suggest limited involvement. The accused is believed to be technologically skilled.
Police found that each recovered phone belonged to a different victim. Upon contact, several individuals confirmed being victimised. While not all cases involved rape, incidents included blackmail, extortion using pornographic materials, and demands for money in exchange for deleting videos.
Most victims are aged between 18 and 20, police said.
Investigators also found that the accused married his wife using the same method and was once caught attempting similar acts at his in-laws’ house.
Police have urged anyone with relevant information or similar complaint to come forward.