KAU Ex-VC sent to jail over rape charge

A Khulna court today sent Shahedur Rahman Khan, former vice-chancellor of Khulna Agricultural University, to jail in a case filed for allegedly raping a female officer of the university in 2021.

Abdus Salam, judge of Khulna Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3, passed the order after rejecting his bail prayer, said Special Public Prosecutor Farid Ahmed.

Khandkar Mazharul Anwar, the current registrar of the university, got permanent bail in the same case yesterday, he told our Khulna correspondent.

Both the accused were on bail till yesterday in an earlier order by the High Court.

On March 13, 2023, a female officer of the university filed a complaint with the Khulna Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3 against the former vice-chancellor Shahedur for allegedly raping her and registrar Mazharul for assisting the former VC.

The next day, the case was recorded with Sondanga Police Station as per the court order.

Quoting the case statement Advocate Farid said the victim used to supply cooked food to the VC's residence every day since he joined the university. Shhedur lived alone in his residence as as his family members were in Mymensingh.

According to the case statement, the former VC proposed the victim several times to establish an illicit sexual relations with him.

On December 16, 2021, the VC raped the victim with the cooperation of the registrar, the victim alleged in the case statement.

Both the VC and the registrar threatened her with dire consequences, saying if she discloses the matter, she will be fired.

Shahidur's term as vice-chancellor at the university ended on September 10 last year.