Bangladeshi cricketer Tofayel Ahmed Rayhan has been formally charged in court after police at Gulshan Police Station submitted a charge sheet accusing him of raping a woman under the pretext of marriage. The submission has been made under Section 9(1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, a provision dealing with serious sexual-offence allegations.
According to the investigation team, the charge sheet was filed on 30 November, following several months of inquiry. Sub-Inspector Samiul Islam, the investigating officer, confirmed the development, stating that the evidence gathered during the investigation was “sufficient to proceed”.
He added that witnesses would appear before the tribunal to testify and “establish the veracity of the allegations”.
From the prosecution side, SI Tahmina Akter announced that the next hearing has been set for 30 December, when the charge sheet will be formally presented before the court. At that stage, the tribunal may consider whether to frame charges and begin full trial proceedings.
Contents of the Charge Sheet
The document claims that Tofayel allegedly developed contact with the complainant through Facebook in January of this year. Their acquaintance reportedly grew into a friendship, after which the accused allegedly expressed romantic intentions. Although the woman purportedly declined the proposal, the cricketer is said to have assured her of marriage and maintained the relationship.
According to the complaint, the first alleged incident took place on 31 January at a hotel in Gulshan, where the woman states she was coerced into a sexual relationship. She further alleges that similar incidents occurred on multiple occasions thereafter.
The complainant eventually filed a case on 1 August, leading to the subsequent investigation.
Bail and Court Developments
Following the filing of the case, Tofayel secured anticipatory bail for six weeks from the High Court on 24 September. However, once the bail period expired, he allegedly did not appear before the trial court to surrender, as is typically required.
The complainant has asserted that she was “misled by assurances of marriage” and that attempts to resolve the matter through family intervention “yielded no result”.
Case Timeline (Summary)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| First alleged incident | 31 January |
| Case filed at Gulshan Police Station | 1 August |
| Anticipatory bail granted | 24 September (six weeks) |
| Charge sheet submitted | 30 November |
| Next court hearing | 30 December |
Additional Context
Legal observers note that the submission of the charge sheet may accelerate proceedings in the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. The case has drawn considerable attention within sporting circles, as it involves a professional cricketer who had been rising within domestic cricket structures. Depending on the upcoming hearing, the court may decide whether to frame charges formally and commence trial.
SB