Ex-principal of Mohammadpur Govt College acquitted in rape case

A Dhaka tribunal today acquitted former principal of Mohammadpur Government College AKM Rezaul Karim Ratan from a case filed over raping a student of the same college.

Judge Munshi Mohammad Moshiar Rahman of Dhaka Fourth Women & Children Repression Prevention Tribunal gave the acquittal order in the presence of the accused in the courtroom.

In the judgment, the judge said as the prosecution failed to prove the charges brought against him, he has been acquitted.

Soon after the acquittal order, Special Public Prosecutor Ershad Alam told the reporters that they were dissatisfied over the judgment. He also said they would challenge it with the higher court after getting certified copy of the order.

Earlier the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the tribunal recorded statements of seven prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case.

According to the case statement, it was alleged that Rezaul Karim, also the suspended deputy secretary of cultural affairs ministry, raped the victim several times promising that he will marry her.

Following the incident, the victim on July 28 of 2018 filed a case against Rezaul Karim with Dhanmondi Police Station.

After an investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against the accused on January 13 of 2019.

It is mentioned that Rezaul, also director of Jatiya Grantha Kendra, was sent on forced retirement on November 23, 2022 after he was found guilty in the departmental proceedings.

Before that, he was found guilty of raping a college student.