Rape of DU student in Kurmitola: Lone accused gets life term imprisonment

A tribunal in Dhaka today sentenced Md Majnu to life-term imprisonment for raping a Dhaka University student in the capital's Kurmitola area in January of this year.

Judge Begum Mosammat Quamrunnahar of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7 of Dhaka handed down the verdict in presence of the accused inside a packed courtroom.

The judge also fined him Tk 50,000, in default of which he will suffer six more months in jail.

In her judgment, the judge said the prosecution was able to prove -- beyond doubt -- the charges against the accused of raping the student, and he was given the highest punishment for his offences.

The judge observed that the accused had committed a heinous offence by raping the student, for which he deserved the highest punishment mentioned in the existing law.

This judgment will send a clear message to other rapists like Majnu, the judge hoped.

Read more: DU erupts in protest

Before judgement, the accused told journalists he was tortured intogiving confessional statements before the magistrate.

Four others raped the victim but he was implicated in the case to harass him, he said.

At one stage, he assaulted a police official and threw abusive words towards the law enforcers. Later, police brought the situation under control.

Parents and teachers of the victim were not present at the court.

The victim's lawyer expressed satisfaction over the judgment.

The defence, however, expressed their dissatisfaction over the judgment and said that they would challenge the verdict with the higher court.

On November 12, the tribunal fixed today (November 19) for delivery of the judgment after conclusion of arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. It recorded statements of 20 out of 24 prosecution witnesses, including the victim and complainant of the case.

On January 5, a DU student was raped while she was walking from Kurmitola bus stop to a friend's house near Shewra Rail gate in the capital around 7:30pm after getting off a university bus.

The next day, the girl's father filed the case with Cantonment Police Station, accusing unknown people.

The rape incident sparked a firestorm of protests and condemnations across the country. Dhaka University students took to the streets and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

On January 8, Rapid Action Battalion arrested Majnu from the capital's Shewra area. He was handed over to the DB, which was tasked probing the case.