Woman 'sexually harassed' by UP member in Noakhali

A union parishad member has been accused of sexually harassing a woman in Noakhali.

The accused is Md Abu Sayeed Rashed, 36, an elected member of ward no. 5 of Noakhali Union Parishad under the district's Sadar upazila.

The victim filed a written complaint against Rashed with local upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and the union parishad chairman on May 7, reports our Noakhali correspondent today.

According to the complaint, the 30-year-old victim, on April 26, sought help from the UP member to settle a conjugal feud, which was going on for some time.

According to the complaint, the UP member offered his support but, in return, proposed to establish an indecent relationship with her.

According to the victim, Rashed called the victim over phone that night and demanded to meet her for 10 minutes.

When the victim denied his approach, the UP member verbally abused her. He then went to the victim's house and tried to meet with her forcefully. At one stage, when the victim cried out for help, the accused left the scene.

Later, the victim filed the complaint with UNO and the chairman.

"Now, he (UP member) is threatening me to withdraw the complaint," the victim told The Daily Star.

Contacted, Rashed denied the allegation and said he is a victim of political conspiracy.

The UP Chairman Maulana Yasin Arafat is now staying abroad.

The union parishad's acting chairman Zahidur Rahman Parvez confirmed that a woman has filed a complaint against the UP member Rashed.

Contacted, Noakhali Sadar's UNO Nizam Uddin Ahmed said, "We have launched an investigation after receiving the complaint."