Rape case filed by weightlifter's mother

The mother of a sexually-assaulted minor weightlifter yesterday filed a rape case against alleged perpetrator Shohag Ali with the Paltan police station.

The case, under section 9(1) of the women and children repression prevention act, was filed some two-and-a-half months after the incident which sent shockwaves through the sports fraternity.

Paltan police station's office-in-charge Mahmudul Haque confirmed to The Daily Star about the filing of the case against Shohag by the victim's mother.

Shilpi Saha, a lawyer of Ain O Salish Kendra -- the legal aid and human rights organisation which took up the case following media reports and has been offering support and legal assistance to the victim's family -- said: "A rape case against Shohag Ali was filed under the section of 9 (1) and the case number is 41 [29-11-2018]."

The incident reportedly took place at the National Sports Council (NSC) Tower on September 13 when Shohag, an office assistant of the Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation (BWF), allegedly assaulted a 17-year-old female weightlifter, who is now undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital.

Meanwhile, Naripokkho, a women's activist non-government organisation, in a statement said that they were stunned, agitated and upset by the incident.

Having demanded a proper and neutral investigation, Naripokkho urged the authorities concerned to bring the rapist and his accomplices to justice.