Man posing as dentist arrested in a rape case

Azizul Haque, alias Zainal, 35, has been arrested in connection with a case filed in Gazipur Sadar Upazila, where he is accused of holding a woman captive and raping her multiple times. 

And as it turns out, he has a prior history of legal action and imprisonment for posing as a dentist to provide medical treatment. The Joydebpur police produced him before the court on Monday (October 26) afternoon.

According to police and local sources, Azizul provided medical services under the guise of a dentist at an establishment called "Ar-Rahman Dental Care" in the Manipur Bazar area of Gazipur. It is also alleged that he claimed to be a ‘hakim’ (traditional healer) and a physician.

As per the case statement, the 30-year-old victim first met Azizul when she took her aunt to him for dental treatment. The woman alleged that, subsequently, Azizul repeatedly harassed her by making inappropriate propositions.

According to the case statement, on the afternoon of September 9, while the woman was waiting for an auto-rickshaw near the Hotapara bus stand, she encountered Azizul and his associate, Murad Hossain. Under the pretext of needing to discuss an urgent matter, they lured her to a location near the "Dibanishi Mor" in the Naulapara area of Sadar Upazila.

According to the allegations, the woman was taken into a room and held captive. She was then raped multiple times against her will, with the perpetrators threatening to kill her. The complaint states that she was held captive from the afternoon of September 9 until the afternoon of September 12.

Eventually, when the accused left the room, the woman managed to escape and sought refuge at the rented home of her younger sister in the Bhabanipur area. She later filed a formal complaint with the police.

Meanwhile, Azizul’s business card claims he treats a wide range of conditions, including skin and venereal diseases, asthma, rheumatism, paralysis, infertility, epilepsy, kidney stones, and tumors of the breast and uterus. It is alleged, however, that he lacks the necessary educational qualifications and recognized professional registration to provide such medical services. He had previously faced legal action for posing as a fake doctor.

Local sources also claim that Azizul would identify himself as a journalist and an activist for the Jamaat-e-Islami party. However, a Facebook post by the Ward Jamaat president mentions that he had been expelled from the party ranks about a year ago due to controversial activities.

Al Mamun, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Joydebpur Police Station, stated that Azizul had been in hiding since the incident of rape. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested him from the Manipur area on Sunday night. He was produced before the court on Monday afternoon.

The OC further added that Azizul had previously been arrested and served time in prison in connection with a case involving a fake doctor.

-    RS/NS