4 get life imprisonment for Kamrangirchar gang rape
In addition to the life sentences, the court imposed a fine of Tk1 lakh on each convict
A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced four individuals to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a 25-year-old woman in the capital's Kamrangirchar area.
The convicts are Shahidul Islam, 23, Saifull Islam, 25, Nizam, 24, and Monir Hossain alias Sentu, 26.
Judge Munshi Md Moshiyar Rahman of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4 pronounced the verdict this morning (22 February).
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
In addition to the life sentences, the court imposed a fine of Tk1 lakh on each convict. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional year of simple imprisonment. Public Prosecutor Md Ershadul Alam (George) confirmed the judgment to the media.
In the verdict, the tribunal directed the district magistrate to deposit the fine money into the state treasury by selling the movable and immovable properties of the convicts.
During the judgment delivery, Shahidul, Nizam, and Sentu were produced in court from jail.
Following the announcement of the verdict, they were sent back to prison with conviction warrants. As Saiful Islam remains at large, the court issued an arrest warrant for him.
According to the case statement, on 26 September 2009, the 25-year-old woman went out for a walk with her friend at an embankment near a boat terminal by a flour mill in Ashrafabad under Kamrangirchar Police Station's area.
At one point, her friend left her and went home. After her friend's departure, at around 6:45pm that evening, Shahidul, Md Saiful, Saiful Islam, Nizam, Sujan, Palash, and Sentu forced her onto a boat by threatening her life and took her to the middle of the Buriganga River.
They threw the boatman into the water. Inside the boat, the accused took turns raping the woman.
Following the rape, they kept the victim locked in a room at the house of a guy known as "Salam contractor."
Upon receiving the news, the complainant's parents rescued her and admitted her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. The rape survivor subsequently filed a case at Kamrangirchar Police Station as the plaintiff.
After investigating, the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md Shafiqul Islam Shikder of Kamrangirchar Police Station, filed a charge sheet on 31 October 2010, against Shahidul Islam, Saiful Islam, Nizam, and Monir Hossain Sentu under Section 9(3) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000.
Additionally, the officer applied for the exemption of Sujan and Palash as their correct addresses were not found, and for Saiful as the allegations against him were not proven.
Subsequently, the tribunal ordered the commencement of the trial by framing charges against Shahidul Islam, Saiful Islam, Nizam, and Monir Hossain Sentu under the aforementioned act of law.
The tribunal also ordered the acquittal of the other accused, Sujan, Palash, and Md Saiful, from the charges of the case. During the trial, the tribunal recorded the testimonies of eight witnesses.
