A Thakurgaon court on Sunday delivered a landmark verdict in a 15-year-old child rape case, sentencing three individuals to imprisonment until natural death and three others to life imprisonment.
Judge Ali Mansur of Thakurgaon Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal (District and Sessions Judge) pronounced the judgement for the crime committed in 2011. The court also imposed significant fines on all six convicts, directing that collected money be provided to the victim as compensation.
According to court records, the incident occurred on 21 October 2011, when a 14-year-old girl was returning home from a friend’s house. As she reached an area near a petrol pump on Thakurgaon-Panchagarh road, she was intercepted by several youths.
The case statement said two men initially gagged the girl and forcibly took her to a secluded spot behind the petrol pump, where others were summoned via mobile phone. There, three individuals took turns raping the girl while the other three assisted in the commission of the crime.
The ordeal ended when a passerby, alerted by the victim’s screams, approached the scene, causing the perpetrators to flee. The passerby provided the victim with clothing and escorted her to acquaintances. She was subsequently admitted to Thakurgaon Modern Sadar Hospital by her family.
On 25 October 2011, four days after the attack, the victim’s father filed a case at Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
In the verdict, the court found Md Anis alias Rana, Md Saiful Islam, and Md Dulal guilty under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
They were sentenced to imprisonment until natural death and fined Tk2 lakh each. The court explicitly said these three convicts would not receive benefits under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The other three convicts – Md Anisur, Md Khatibur alias Khatu, and Md Lalu were sentenced to life imprisonment under the same Act. They were each fined Tk1 lakh, with an additional year of rigorous imprisonment if they fail to pay.
The court further directed Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner to take necessary measures to recover the fines by selling the convicts’ movable and immovable property if they fail to pay. While five of the convicts have been sent to jail, Md Anis alias Rana remains absconding.
A conviction warrant and an arrest warrant have been issued against him, and his sentence will commence upon his arrest or surrender.
Reacting to the verdict, State Counsel Advocate Mohammad Badrul Chowdhury said the court reached its decision after a thorough review of evidence and testimonies.
“The victim has received justice after a long time. This verdict will play a vital role in suppressing heinous crimes like violence against women and children,” he added.
However, Defence Counsel Advocate Abdus Subhan expressed dissatisfaction, saying his clients did not receive justice and confirming that an appeal would be filed in the High Court once the full copy of the judgement is obtained.
