Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka
Dhaka, Dec 12: In a development that has stirred the cricketing circles in Bangladesh, young cricketer Tofael Ahmed Raihan (25), who has represented Bangladesh A, has been named in a police charge sheet in a serious sexual assault case.
According to a detailed report by Cricbuzz, the Gulshan Police have submitted a charge sheet confirming that the allegations against the cricketer were prima facie established. Investigators stated that the complainant’s testimony, hotel booking documents, medical examination findings, and additional evidence have strengthened the case, which is scheduled to be placed before the court on December 30.
The case traces back to Tofael’s initial contact with the woman on Facebook, where regular conversations blossomed into a romantic connection. The woman had reportedly declined his advances at first but later consented after the cricketer expressed a clear intention to marry her.
As per the complaint, Tofael allegedly took the woman to a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka, introduced her to the staff as his wife, and subsequently committed non-consensual sexual acts. The assault is said to have continued on multiple occasions, even as he repeatedly assured her of marriage—an assurance he later denied.
The woman lodged a formal complaint at Gulshan Police Station on August 1, accusing the cricketer of repeated sexual violence.
The High Court had earlier granted Tofael a six-week anticipatory bail on September 24, directing him to surrender before the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal once the bail period ended. However, officials confirmed that the cricketer failed to comply with the directive.
“The charge sheet has been filed under Section 9(1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act,” said Sub-Inspector Md Samiul Islam, the case’s investigating officer.
Meanwhile, despite the ongoing case, Tofael continued his cricketing commitments and was part of the Bangladesh squad that featured in the Plate Final of the Hong Kong Sixes 2025 tournament held in November.