A case has been filed over the death of an O-level student who was “sexually assaulted” and “killed” on Thursday in the capital’s Kalabagan.

The 17-year-old victim’s father filed the case against her boyfriend Fardin Iftekhar Dihan on the night of the incident, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Division) Sajjadur Rahman said. 

Also read: O-level student ‘raped, killed’ in Dhaka

“A-level student Dihan was accused of rape and murder. And we had shown him arrested and kept three more suspects in custody for interrogation.”

Also read: 8 to die for killing minor girl after rape in Chattogram

“Police produced Dihan before a Dhaka court on Friday and applied to have him remanded in custody,” Sajjadur said.

Earlier, the law enforcers recovered the 17-year-old victim’s body from a city hospital and arrested Dihan and three others in connection with the incident.

The victim went to a friend’s house in Kalabagan for group study, family sources said.

Also read: Schoolgirl ‘gang raped’ in Bhola, suspect detained

Next, Dihan “raped” the girl and took her to the hospital. Doctors informed the law enforcers that the victim was brought dead.

Sajjadur said, “We are still not sure about the cause of her death and can figure it out after receiving the autopsy report.” 

Rape still pervasive despite stronger law

Also read: Bangladesh introduces death penalty for rape

The government last November amended the law to ensure the death penalty for rape.

The nationwide protest sparked by gang rape incidents in Sylhet MC College hostel and Noakhali prompted the government to make the swift change.

The cabinet approved the amendment on October 12 last year. A day later, the president promulgated an ordinance in this regard.

Also read: Child rape increased 76.01pc in Bangladesh last year: BSAF

After that 160 incidents of rape took place until December 31, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) said.

Last year, 1,627 women became a victim of rape. Fifty-three of them were killed after rape and 14 of the victims took their own lives, according to ASK.

But the actual number is believed to be higher as many victims choose not to report assaults fearing their safety.

Former Awami League MP Pinu Khan’s son Bakhtiar Alam Rony – sentenced to life imprisonment for a double murder in Eskaton – was refused bail on Wednesday.

The High Court bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice Shahed Nuruddin passed the order.

Also read: Eskaton double murder: Ex-AL MP’s son Rony gets life term

Advocate Motahar Hossain stood for Rony while Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state.

On January 30, 2019, a Dhaka court sentenced Rony to life imprisonment. He was also fined Tk50,000 and also handed another six months of imprisonment for failing to pay it.

Also read: Verdict in Eskaton double murder case Jan 30

The court said it put Rony behind bars for life considering his psychological and physical conditions at the time of the incident.

On April 13, 2015, a drunken Rony fired gunshots from his car in the capital’s New Eskaton, injuring rickshaw-puller Abdul Hakim and auto-rickshaw driver Yakub.

Also read: Eskaton double murder verdict deferred again

Hakim died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 15 and Yakub on April 23.

A case was filed with Ramna Police Station against unidentified people on April 15. And Rony was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence on June 1.

The court was initially scheduled to deliver the verdict on May 8 last year. It was deferred as Judge Md Al Mamun said he could not prepare the judgment. 

Also read: Eskaton double murder verdict October 4

The court pushed back the verdict date again, to October 4, after the prosecution filed a petition to summon the investigation officer for a rehearing.

Hearing of the arguments concluded on January 15. Then, the court said it would deliver the verdict on January 30.

The High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to 178 leaders and activists of BNP in connection with the cases over the arson attacks on buses including two government staff buses and a BRTC double-decker bus in different parts of the city.

Also read: Cases filed over torching of 9 buses in city

The HC bench of Justice Md. Habibul Gani passed the order after hearing 36 petitions.

Also read: BNP engaged in arson to make by-polls questionable: PM

Jubo Dal vice-chairman Abdul Baten Shamim Rabiul Alam was among the accused.

The bail will remain in force till February 7 and during this period they have to surrender before the judicial court, said Barrister Kaisar Kamal, a counsel of the accused.

Also read: Arson attacks on buses: 3 held in city

A number of buses were torched in separate places of the capital including Uttara, Kalabagan, Shahbagh, Motijheel and Paltan areas of the city on November 12 cantering the by election of Dhaka-18 constituency.

Also read: 'BNP denied recent arson attacks only to protect criminals within'

Separate cases were filed against the leaders and activists of BNP in connection with the incident.

Also read: 'BNP playing old game of arson attack even amid Covid-19'

A man convicted of raping his own daughter has been sentenced to life in prison.

Md. Nejam Uddin, 40, a carpenter of Vujpur, Chattogram stood accused of raping his 12-year-old daughter. Chattogram Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7 judge Munshi Abdul Majid found him guilty in a judgment announced today.

The public prosecutor of the tribunal Kh. Ariful Alam confirmed the matter and said Nejam is facing his sentence under two separate sections. 

Also read: Rape attempt on Sunamganj college student: Bus driver held

He said the tribunal additionally fined the convict Tk 20,000 and also sentenced him to life imprisonment under section 9(1). Under another section 9(4)(B) he is liable to pay Tk 5,000 and sentenced to five years in prison. If he fails to pay, he would face rigorous imprisonment for another three years and three months.

Eleven witnesses testified in the case proceedings, he added. 

Also read: Cumilla witnesses alarming number of rapes in 2020

According to the court statement, Nejam sexually violated his daughter several times. After the abuse came to light, locals first resorted to local Chairman Rustom Ali. Later they handed him over to Police. 

Nejam's wife filed a case against her husband with Vujpur Police Station. 

Also read: Magura witnesses 73 rape incidents in 2020

On 30 October 2019, the Police submitted a charge sheet against the accused. The court later lodged charges against the convict and ordered starting the trial on March 5, 2020.