13 sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment over rape case in Noakhali

A court has sentenced 13 accused to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for torturing a woman in Begumganj of Noakhali district. At the same time, a fine of Rs 50,000 has been imposed.

Judge Joynal Abedin of Noakhali Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal-1 pronounced the verdict at 12:01 pm on Tuesday (December 14).

Public Prosecutor Mamunur Rashid Lavlu confirmed the verdict.

Accused Nur Hossain Badal, Abdur Rahim, Abul Kalam, Israfil Hossain Mia, Main Uddin Saju, Samsuddin Sumon Contractor, Nur Hossain Russell, Anwar Hossain Sohag, and Delwar Hossain Delu were present in the court while the verdict was announced.

The fugitive accused in the case are Abdur Rob Chowdhury, Mostafizur Rahman, Jamal Uddin, and Mizanur Rahman Tareq.

Advocate Mamunur Rashid Lablu conducted the case on behalf of the state, Advocate Mollah Habibur Rasul Mamun represented the plaintiff, and Advocate Jasim Uddin Badal conducted the case on behalf of the accused.

State Counsel Advocate Mamunur Rashid Lablu said the PBI has already filed a charge sheet against 13 people in the case. Nine of the accused have been brought to court. There are four other fugitives. In the last year, the court has taken the testimony of 40 witnesses including the plaintiff.

Mostafizur Rahman, the investigating officer in the case, said that in 2020, local terrorist Delwar forces tied her husband to a tree in Jayakrishnapur village of Eklashpur union in Begumganj and tried to rape his wife. Failing that, he stripped the housewife naked and beat her. The accused recorded the scene on their mobile phones. The injured woman recovered after treatment and fled to her sister's house in the district headquarters.

While there, the accused demanded TK 50,000 from her and offered to have sex with her. The housewife did not agree, so they uploaded the previously captured video on social media. On October 4, the video went viral on social media.

The victim filed three cases under the Rape, Torture, and Pornography Act at Begumganj Model Police Station. Among the three cases, the court sentenced Delwar and Abul Kalam to life imprisonment on October 4 in a rape case.