Bogra Rape: Victim makes a judicial statement

The female student, who was raped by Sramik League leader Tufan Sarkar, yesterday gave a judicial statement.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Shyam Sundar Roy recorded her statement at his office for about one and a half hours from 3:45pm.

Details of the statement could not be known immediately.

The student while leaving the court said she had told the magistrate everything.

“I told the court everything including the rape,” she told The Daily Star.

Earlier, police brought her to the court from Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. After recording her statement, the police took her to Additional District Magistrate Emdadul Haque of Child Court for hearing if she should be sent to a safe home.

The victim told the court that she wanted treatment at the hospital. The judge later asked the police to arrange adequate security for her.

Drug peddler and extortionist Tufan was suspended from the organisation on Saturday amid a flurry of protest after he had picked up the student from her house and raped her at his house on July 17.

He lured her with a pledge to help her get admitted to a college. As she fell sick due to bleeding, Tufan gave her medication and sent her home.

The girl did not immediately reveal the rape in fear of a backlash.

Tufan's wife Asha, however, learned about it and sent some cadres to pick up the girl and her mother on Friday. She tortured them for four hours at her house and had their heads shaved.

The victim's mother on Saturday filed two cases -- rape and torture -- against Tufan, Asha, Rumki, Rumi, Atiq, Munna, Ali Azam Dipu, Rupom, Shimul, Zitu and some unidentified persons.

All named accused but Shimul were arrested and now on remand.

The police also arrested Tufan's father-in-law Jamirur Rahman Runu and barber Jiban and put them on remand.

Additional Superintendent of Police in Bogra Sonaton Chokrobarty said they were trying to arrest Shimul.

“Tufan has already admitted of raping the girl. We are now waiting for her medical report,” he said, adding, Tufan's wife, sister-in-law Rumki and mother-in-law Rumi have also admitted of torturing the girl and her mother.

Central Jubo League yesterday sacked Motin Sarkar, elder brother of Tufan and joint secretary of Bogra town unit, for his involvement in unethical acts and damaging party reputation.

An accused in nine cases, including murders and drugs, Motin went into hiding since the arrest of Tufan.

PROTESTS CONTINUE

Different socio-political organisations yesterday formed a human chain in Bogra town demanding speedy trial of Tufan and other culprits.

Referring to Tonu “rape” and murder incident in Comilla, they asked the government to arrest and punish all the culprits.

BNP leaders and activists also staged demonstrations in front of their party office in the town. They demanded immediate trial of the culprits.

Speakers at a human chain programme organised by Bangladesh Employment Movement Party in front of the capital's Jatiya Press Club yesterday demanded exemplary punishment to alleged rapist Tufan and his cohorts.

They called upon the government to ensure security of the victim and her family members.