A female constable in Dhaka has accused fellow officer Safiur Rahman of repeatedly raping her inside the South Keraniganj police station barracks and blackmailing her with video footage.
The officer, who was transferred to the station in February 2025, said the first assault took place in April, after Eid. “He entered my room at night, raped me, and threatened to release the video on Facebook if I spoke out,” she told reporters. According to her testimony, Rahman continued to assault her for six months, sometimes promising marriage and at other times using threats and violence.
On August 15, she alleges Rahman raped her again around 2:30 a.m. When she tried to file a complaint in the following days, senior officers at the station blocked her. After five days of being denied justice, she attempted suicide on August 17. Surviving the attempt, she appealed to higher authorities, claiming that senior officials were protecting Rahman and even offering her money to remain silent.
Both the survivor and Rahman were later transferred to police lines. At the Superintendent of Police’s office, she filed a written complaint. Rahman has denied the allegations, while another female constable suddenly claimed to be his wife, a claim that has not been officially verified.
South Keraniganj OC Syed Mohammad Akter Hossain said no complaint had been lodged with him. Dhaka District SP Md. Anisuzzaman stated, “Our police are disciplined. A full investigation is underway. Whoever is found guilty will face legal action.”
This case underscores how women within Bangladeshi law enforcement face sexual violence, blackmail, and institutional silencing. The survivor’s testimony reveals a culture of impunity, victim-blaming, and cover-ups, showing how even female officers struggle to access justice within the very system meant to protect them.
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