Shafat's bail cancellation hearing Feb 13

A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned till February 13 the hearing on a petition, filed by the prosecution, seeking cancellation of bail of Banani double rape case's prime accused Ahmed Shafat.

Judge Khademul Kayes of the 7th Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression of Dhaka passed the order as a lawyer for another accused, Nayem Ashraf, remained absent before the court.

The petitioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu, was present for the hearing.    

On January 15, Abdullah Abu filed the petition, saying that Shafat, son of Dildar Hossain Selim, one of the owners of Apan Jewellers, secured an ad-interim bail on November 29 last year on health grounds.

The defence have failed to submit any medical certificates in this regard and Shafat is in good health now, he said, adding that Shafat's bail should be cancelled because if he stays on bail, he might influence or manipulate witnesses in the case.

Shafat's lawyer, however, said his client is still sick and the petition was filed to harass his client. Among five accused in the case, only Shafat's friend Nayem Ashraf is currently in jail, while others are on bail. 

On July 13, 2017, charges were framed against the five accused for raping two university students at a Banani hotel where the two women went to attend Shafat's birthday party on March 28, 2017.

In a case filed with Banani Police Station on May 6 the same year, one of the invited women alleged that after the party ended around midnight, Shafat and Nayem raped the two invited women in two different rooms. 

All the five accused were drunk during the crime, she said, adding that Billal filmed the raping of the two women while Rahmat intimidated them. Sakif did not inform the hotel authorities and police about the incident.