The accused has been identified as Shamiran Mondol, a resident of Paikgacha Union.

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

In her complaint to police on Wednesday, the woman alleged that Shamiran, who often used to come to their house to meet her husband for work, secretly recorded an objectionable video of her in May last year and used the same to rape her many a time.

In January this year, the accused even tried to extort Tk 2 lakh from the woman threatening to make the video public, as per the complaint.

Also read:Rapists on the prowl: Magura woman raped by five

"Two months ago, the woman was thrown out of the house by her husband and parents-in-law after they came to know about the sexual assault on her and the extortion bid by the accused," said Ezaz Shafi, Officer-in-Charge of Paikgacha police station.

Based on her complaint, an FIR for rape and extortion has been lodged against the accused. "He was arrested, produced in a court and sent to judicial custody," he said.

Rapes in Bangladesh

Rapes are on the rise in Bangladesh although the government has introduced 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, 116 survivors were 6 years or below.

Also read:Bangladesh introduces death penalty for rape

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

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

In October 2020, 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 raped by several mem at a hostel, triggering nationwide protests again.