Police have arrested a man accused of attempting to rape an Indigenous housewife in Godagari upazila, Rajshahi on September 07, 2025. The arrest comes nearly a week after the alleged incident, which has caused widespread concern in the local community.

Incident Overview

On September 1, 2025, an incident of attempted rape of an indigenous housewife took place near Haripur field bridge in Godagari upazila, Rajshahi. The accused has been identified as Khairul Badsha alias Kota (40), son of Md. Habibur Rahman of Dwigram Ghunti village under Mohanpur Union. He is a father of four children. He was detained on Sunday afternoon (September 7) by the Godagari Model Police Station in connection with a case filed by the victim. When witnesses confronted him, Khairul allegedly attacked them, abandoned his motorcycle and mobile phone, and fled the scene. The villagers then rescued the woman and handed her over to the custody of the local village police.

The case was officially filed by the victim, leading to the arrest of the accused by Godagari Model Police Station on Sunday, September 7, 2025. The case has been registered as Case No. 09.

Community Response

On the following day, September 2, a meeting was called by local leaders and village elders in an attempt to reach a compromise. As the accused was absent, the matter was left unresolved, and the woman was eventually taken back to her home by local youths.

Community members revealed that the victim is five months pregnant and already the mother of a two-year-old child. Following the incident, however, her husband reportedly rejected her, and she has faced social ostracism from her Indigenous community — compounding the trauma of the attempted assault.

Police Action

Confirming the arrest, Ruhul Amin, Officer-in-Charge of Godagari Model Police Station, said: “The case was written based on the victim’s own testimony. We asked her repeatedly, and she described the incident in the same way each time. We have registered the case accordingly. The accused will be sent to jail after the legal procedures are completed.”

The case has been recorded as Case No. 09 under Godagari Model Police Station.

Broader Concerns

The incident has drawn attention to the vulnerability of Indigenous women in rural areas, who often face both gender-based violence and social exclusion. Human rights observers argue that the attempted “compromise” by local leaders highlights the persistent barriers to justice in cases of sexual violence, particularly for women from marginalized communities.

While the arrest of Khairul Badsha marks an important step toward justice, the rejection of the victim by her family and community underscores the urgent need for greater social support systems, awareness programs, and stronger enforcement of women’s rights in Indigenous and rural societies.