Bangladesh cricket has been rocked by a shocking incident ahead of the World T20 next year. A rising Bangladesh A cricketer, Tofael Ahmed Raihan, is facing serious legal trouble after police formally charged him in a sexual assault case involving a young woman who alleges she was deceived with the promise of marriage.
The development marks a significant escalation in a case that has gripped Bangladesh’s cricketing circles in recent months. According to the complaint, Tofael took the woman to a Gulshan hotel on January 31, presenting her as his wife, where he allegedly committed non-consensual acts. He continued to promise marriage afterward.
The woman reported that Tofael subsequently assaulted her multiple times but refused her requests to fulfill his marriage promise. She filed her case at Gulshan Police Station on August 1. Despite being granted six weeks’ anticipatory bail on 24 September with a directive to surrender before its expiry, Tofael failed to comply. He subsequently travelled to Hong Kong to represent Bangladesh ‘A’ in a six-a-side tournament.
Investigators confirmed on Thursday (11 December) that a charge sheet has been submitted against the pace-bowling all-rounder under Section 9(1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
Sub-Inspector Md Samiul Islam of Gulshan Police Station said the allegations were prima facie supported by multiple forms of evidence. The police have collected substantial evidence to support the charges, including hotel documentation, medical reports, and witness statements. The case continues to develop as legal proceedings move forward. The court Is expected to review the charge sheet at the next hearing on 30 December, according to officials. As the case moves to court, the spotlight now shifts to the legal process, with the allegations casting a shadow over Tofael’s budding cricketing career.
Tofael Ahmed has been a regular player in the domestic circuit and also took part for Bangladesh A recently. He has played 6 FC matches, 18 List A games and 3 T20 matches. It remains to be seen how this case moves forward. Bangladesh doesn’t have any T20I games before heading into the mega event. The tournament will be held in February-March, while the Tigers played their international game earlier this month.
