Nilphamari rape: HC stays acquittal by tribunal for 6 months

The High Court yesterday stayed for six months a Nilphamari tribunal's order that acquitted an accused in a rape case filed by a 15-year-old victim.

It also directed the accused, Md Akhtaruzzaman, a member of Boarder Guard Bangladesh, to surrender before the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Nilphamari within four weeks.

The bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Shahed Nuruddin passed the order after hearing an appeal in this regard.

On June 26, Buddrun Nahar, a panel lawyer of the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee (SCLAC), on behalf of the victim, moved the appeal before the HC, seeking scrapping of the tribunal order.

It said the evidence from the medical report proves the rape and therefore, the accused cannot be acquitted and tribunal order must be scrapped.

Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi represented the state during the hearing.  

On June 15, the teenage victim, along with her mother, directly appeared before the HC bench and sought justice, leaving the judges and lawyers present in the courtroom taken aback.

"Sir, I have been raped. We are very poor. We have no money for moving the case. I want justice from you," were her words.

When Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim, the presiding judge, asked her about the incident, she said she was raped by a BGB man and she came to seek justice with her mother. She was able to place all the necessary documents before the judges.

When the bench asked if any panel lawyer from the SCLAC was present in the courtroom to represent the 15-year-old, Buddrun Nahar stepped up to provide her with the legal assistance.