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HomeUncategorizedBangladesh World Cup squad’s cricketer remanded in actress rape case

Bangladesh World Cup squad’s cricketer remanded in actress rape case

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Bangladesh cricketer Rubel Hossain, who has been named in the country’s World Cup squad, was behind bars after being remanded in custody over allegations that he raped an actress.

A magistrate in the capital Dhaka delivered the order after 19-year-old Naznin Akter Happy lodged a complaint of “rape” and a “false promise of marriage” against the cricketer last month.

The court’s decision puts a huge question mark over the 24-year-old’s appearance in the next month’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after selectors picked him in the 15-man squad last weekend.

“The metropolitan magistrate court rejected his bail plea… He was sent to prison pending the next hearing of the case,” deputy commissioner of Dhaka police Anisur Rahman said.

No date has been set for the next hearing.

Police last month launched a probe after Happy lodged a complaint with police that the fast bowler had backed away from an earlier pledge to marry her after having a months-long “intimate affair”.

After hearing the complaint, a court ordered medical tests on Happy and both the alleged victim and Hossain to undergo DNA tests.

The scandal has gripped the conservative Muslim-majority country for weeks, with Happy telling reporters that she would be prepared to withdraw the case if Rubel agrees to marry her.

Although victims of alleged rapes are usually entitled to anonymity, Happy’s decision to go public prompted police to waive the usual restrictions. Under Bangladeshi law, anyone who makes what is considered a “false” marriage proposal is liable to criminal prosecution.

The fast bowler has rejected the accusations of rape or making a marriage proposal, saying Happy was trying to “blackmail” him. He also ruled out marrying the actress.

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