A happy day for Rubel

Pacer Rubel Hossain must have been over the moon yesterday. Not only did he run through Walton Central Zone's batting line-up with a ferocious five-for at Fatullah, but also was relieved of the rape charge that was filed against him by actress Naznin Akter Happy.

Police yesterday reported that they did not find any evidence in support of the allegations labelled against the pace bowler.

Inspector Halima Khatun, investigating officer in the case, submitted her report to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court yesterday morning.

According to the report, the IO did not find any evidence supporting Happy's allegation. Magistrate Meher Nigar Suchona fixed April 13 as the next date of hearing.

Happy filed a rape case with the Mirpur Model Police Station under the Prevention of Women and Child Repression Act on December 13 last year against Rubel for allegedly having an affair with her, whom he had apparently promised to marry.

On January 8, Rubel was sent to jail after he surrendered before a Dhaka court in connection with the case.

The national cricketer got bail till submission of the police report from a Dhaka court on January 11 and he walked out of jail the same day.

After getting the bail, he left for Australia in January for the Cricket World Cup.

The court on December 31 ordered police to carry out DNA tests of Rubel and Happy.

Earlier on December 15, the High Court had granted Rubel an anticipatory bail for four weeks in the case.