A court in Narayanganj has sentenced a youth to life-term rigorous imprisonment (RI) and fined him Tk 1 lakh in a rape case.

The court also ordered the authorities concerned to identify the convict -- Mamun Miah, 24, son of Amanullah of Khirdasadi village in Araihazar upazila of the district -- as the biological father of the child born out of rape. The court announced the verdict in absentia.

According to the prosecution,  Mamun had developed a relationship with a neighbour and raped her several times since January 5, 2013. When the young girl became pregnant, she kept on asking Mamun to marry her. In the meantime, she gave birth to a baby girl. Yet, Mamun refused to marry her.  

Later, she filed a case with the women and children repression prevention tribunal on March 18 -- two months after the child's birth.

The court in the verdict said the child will be placed under the custody of her mother and will be known as the daughter of Mamun and her mother. Realising the money from Mamun's existing wealth, the government will bear the expenses of the child until she is married off.