Rape at MC College: HC orders principal, hostel super suspended for negligence

The High Court (HC) has ordered the authorities concerned to suspend Sylhet's MC College principal, Saleh Ahmed, and hostel superintendent, Jibon Krisna Achariya, for their negligence resulting in the gangrape of a woman on 25 September last year. 

The bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah issued the order on Wednesday.

Government authorities concerned will implement the order within seven days of the written verdict being published, the court says.
The court gave the verdict on a suo moto rule issued by it previously for a case filed for the gangrape on the MC College campus.

The HC bench concluded hearing on the rule on 11 March and kept the issue on CAV, Curiae Advisari Vult -- a Latin term that suggests reserving judgement until a later time.

Deputy attorney general, Nowroz Md Rasel Chowdhury, was in the court on behalf of the state. Lawyer Mohammad Misbah Uddin who had placed media reports of the rape incident before the HC bench was present in court.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned to "show cause" for why they should not be directed to take appropriate legal steps against the principal and hostel superintendent of the MC College for their negligence and failure to save the innocent woman from being raped.

The court also formed a three-member committee headed by Sylhet's District and Sessions Judge, Md Bazlur Rahman, to conduct an inquiry of the campus rape incident.

The committee submitted its 179-page probe report to the HC bench on October 20 last year.

The probe committee has found negligence on the part of the principal of the college, two hostel superintendents, and five guards at MC College, failing to ensure security, resulting in the gangrape of a woman in the hostel. 

The committee has made 15 recommendations including, that seats in college hostels should be ensured based on the needs of regular students and non-students, and alumni should be strictly prohibited from living in hostels so that such incidents do not take place in future.

On 3 December last year, police pressed two separate charge sheets, accusing eight BCL leaders-activists in the gang rape and mugging cases. 

On 25 September last year, a couple from South Surma in Sylhet went to visit MC College in the evening. Five to six leaders and activists of Chhatra League grabbed them, brought them to the dormitory, and beat them up both. Later, they tied up her husband and raped the woman in front of him.

The next day, the victim's husband filed a case against nine people at the city's Shahparan police station, naming six people.

All of the accused were arrested and gave their confessional statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure when they were remanded.

The rape incident sparked an anti-rape movement across the country. The government also amended the anti-rape law with the provision of the death penalty, amid protests.