Man gets life sentence for raping 6-year-old in capital

A tribunal in Dhaka has sentenced a man to life imprisonment in a case filed over the rape of a six-year-old girl in the capital's Kadamtali area after luring her with food.

Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered the verdict today (29 April) in the presence of the convict, Md Sohan Alam Topu, 26.

The court also fined him Tk3 lakh, in default of which he will have to serve six months of rigorous imprisonment.

The tribunal directed the district magistrate to realise the fine and hand it over to the victim's family as compensation.

After the verdict, the court ordered that the convict be sent back to jail with a warrant.

According to the case statement, the accused was known to the complainant. Based on that acquaintance, the victim's family had been staying at the accused's residence in Kadamtali while seeking treatment for another child.

On 8 May 2023, around 8pm, the accused took the six-year-old girl to a staff quarter in the Matuail Mother and Child Institute area under the pretext of feeding her. Later, at around 2am, he left the child at a hospital.

The following morning, he told the victim's mother that the child had sustained an eye injury. When questioned, the child said the accused had lured her with promises of food and took her into a room in Matuail, where the assault took place.

The accused also threatened the child not to disclose the incident, according to the case statement.

Following the incident, the victim's close relative, Md Sajjat Hossain, filed the case as the complainant.

After the case was filed, the court on 14 May of the same year ordered the arrest of the accused, who has remained in jail since then.

On 26 December 2023, Sub-Inspector Mohsin Chowdhury of Kadamtali Police Station submitted the charge sheet against him. During the trial, the tribunal recorded testimonies of nine witnesses.