Khulna Agri Univ: Ex-VC sent to jail over rape charge

A Khulna court yesterday 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 on Sunday.

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

On March 13, 2023, a female officer of the university filed a complaint with Khulna Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3 against 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 Shahedur used to live on the fifth floor of the university building in the city when he was VC at the university as his family members were in Mymensingh.

The victim used to supply cooked food to the VC's residence every day since he joined the university.

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

Both the VC and the registrar threatened her for dire consequences, saying that she will be fired from the university job if she disclosed the matter.

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