Hearing adjourned till March 18

A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned hearing of Banani double rape case till March 18.

Judge Khademul Kayes of Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7 passed the order after the prosecution submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing.

The petition said one of the victims could not appear before the tribunal yesterday due to illness.

Earlier on February 13, the tribunal cancelled the bail of prime accused Ahmed Shafat, and sent him to jail.

Shafat had secured bail in the case on November 29 last year. It was cancelled following a petition by Public Prosecutor of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court Abdullah Abu.

Meanwhile, four other accused -- Nayem Ashraf, a friend of Shafat; driver Billal Hossain, and bodyguards Rahmat Ali and Shadman Sakif -- are now on bail.

On March 28, 2017, two girls were allegedly raped by Shafat and Nayem in a hotel in Banani. A case was filed with Banani Police Station on May 6 by one of the victims. On June 8, 2017, police submitted the charge sheet.