Dhaka: The Detective Branch of Police on Monday arrested the bodyguard of Safat Ahmed — one of the five accused in a case filed over the rape of two private university girls in a Banani hotel — from Dhaka city’s Gulshan area.

Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan (North) Police Sheikh Nazmul Alam said they arrested Rahamat Ali — Billal — driver of Safat Ahmed, one of the five accused — from Gulshan-1 area in the capital city at about 7:00pm.

Besides, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Monday arrested the third accused from Dhaka city’s Nababpur area in connection with the case filed over the rape of two private university girls in a Banani hotel.

RAB 10 chief, Additional Inspector General Jahangir Hossain Matubbar , said they arrested Billal — driver of Safat Ahmed, one of the five accused — from a local hotel at Nababpur at about 6:00pm.

Earlier, police on 10 May arrested two other accused — Safat Ahmed and Sadman Sakif — from Sylhet city’s Pathantula area in connection with the case.

The two victims gave their judicial statements before a court in Dhaka in the case on Thursday (11 May).

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Thursday formed two separate committees to investigate the Banani rape incident.

A three-member committee, headed by Additional Commissioner Mizanur Rahman, will investigate whether there was any negligence of duty of Banani police station, while a 4-member committee, led by Joint Commissioner (Crime) Krishna Pad Ray, will assist in the investigation of the sensational rape case, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman on Friday.

Two other members of the 3-member committee are— Joint Commissioner (DB) Abdul Baten and Joint Commissioner (Crime) Krishna  Pad Ray. The committee was asked to submit its report within three working days.

Three other members of the 4-member committee are—DC (DB-North) Sheikh Nazmul Alam, DC (Women Support and Investigation) Farida Yesmin and DC (Gulshan division) Mostak Ahmed.

Joint Commissioner Krishna Pad Ray said that after primary interrogation they found evidence of the involvement Safat Ahmed and Sadman Sakif, the two accused in the rape case, in the incident.

A Dhaka court on Friday (12 May) placed Safat Ahmed on a 6-day police custody while Sadman Sakif on 5-day for interrogation in a case filed over the rape of two private university girls in a Banani hotel.

One of the rape victims filed a case with Banani Police Station on May 6 accusing five people.

Of the accused, Safat Ahmed and Nayeem Ashraf were sued for raping the two female university students while Sadman Sakif, Safat’s driver Billal and his unnamed bodyguard for abetting in the crime.

According to the case statement, the plaintiff along with her friend went to a residential hotel at Banani to attend the birthday party of Safat at about 9:00pm on March 28.

The two prime accused — Safat and Nayeem — confined them to two rooms of the hotel at gunpoint after the rooftop birthday party was over at midnight. The two girls were made to drink liquor before being raped. Safat raped the plaintiff while Nayeem her friend.

Safat’s driver Billal filmed the incident, she said in the FIR adding that they got introduced with Safat and Nayeem through Sadman Sakif.