Bangladesh
DU Rape DU rape case: Lifer for Majnu
Dhaka, November 19: A tribunal has sentenced Majnu, the only accused in the rape case of a Dhaka University (DU) student in the capital's Kurmitola, to life imprisonment. Judge Begum Mosammat Kamrunnahar of Dhaka's Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal-7 pronounced the verdict on Thursday (November 19).
Expressing satisfaction over the verdict, state prosecutor Afroza Farhana Ahmed Orange said, "We are satisfied that Majnu, the only accused in the DU student rape case, has been given life imprisonment. We have got justice in this verdict."
However, Majnu's lawyer (appointed by the government) Rabiul Islam said, "We did not get justice in the verdict. We will go to the High Court against the verdict."
Earlier on November 12, Judge Begum Mosammat Kamrunnahar of Dhaka's Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal-7 set November 19 for the verdict after presenting arguments from both sides. Of the 24 witnesses in the case, 20 have completed their testimony. The trial of the case has been completed in 13 working days.
It may be mentioned that the DU student got on the university bus at Kurmitola bus stand in the capital at around 5 pm on January 5 this year. An unidentified man then grabbed her by the face and took her to a secluded place at the back of the road, where she was raped and physically abused. The student lost consciousness at one stage of torture. Medical examination found scars on various parts of the tortured student's body.
When she regained consciousness at around 10 pm, she found herself in a secluded place. Later she went to Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital in a CNG autorickshaw. Her classmates admitted her to the One Stop Crisis Center (OCC) of DMC Hospital around 12 am.
The next morning, the girl's father filed a case against the unidentified man at the Cantonment Police Station. The case was being investigated by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB North). On January 8, RAB arrested Majnu. On January 9, the court allowed police to question Majnu on a seven-day remand. The accused pleaded guilty to rape on January 16 and testified under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
On March 18, Abu Bakkar, the investigating officer of the case, filed a chargesheet against Majnu in the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court. On August 26, Judge Begum Mosammat Kamrunnahar of Dhaka's Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal-8 framed charges against Majnoor in a virtual court.
