Mofizul Islam was nabbed on February 3 from his home on a police complaint by his former wife. He was produced in a local court on Thursday, which sent him to jail custody, officials said on Friday.

Also read: Much-talked-about changes to rape law passed in parliament

Mofizul recently divorced his wife and started an affair with his former sister-in-law, said sub-inspector Anowar Hossain of Sachar Police Outpost. "He took the woman to his house and then raped her, promising to marry her," the officer said.

Islam was arrested following an FIR under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act that was lodged at the police outpost on the basis of his former wife's complaint, Anowar said.

Also read:Rape incidents continue amid widespread protests

Rapes in Bangladesh

Cases of rape are on the rise in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for the heinous crime.

According to data compiled by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a rights group, 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 cases were filed at police stations. Among them, some 116 were of 6 years or below.

Overall, 1,627 cases of rape were reported last year and 53 of them were killed by the perpetrators after the crime while 14 took their own lives, the ASK data reveals.

In November last, Bangladesh introduced the death penalty for rape cases, following days of protests against sexual violence against women.

Also read:Horrific rape crime continues; now Ctg girl gang-raped at hotel

Although many appreciated the government for introducing the death penalty, gang rapes in Bangladesh have continued to hit headlines.

In October last, the country was rocked by huge protests after a woman was attacked and raped in Noakhali district. In another case in Sylhet a week later, a woman was gang raped at a hostel, triggering nationwide protests again.