Eight sentenced to life imprisonment for gang rape

A court in Faridpur has sentenced eight men to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a young woman and recording the incident on a mobile phone.

The court also fined each convict Tk 200,000.

Faridpur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Shamima Parveen delivered the verdict on Monday afternoon. All eight convicts were present in court during the announcement of the verdict and were later taken to jail under police escort.

The convicts are Nishan Sheikh, Shahin Sheikh, 21, Joy Sheikh, 24, Rahim Molla, 23, Monir, 27, Hridoy, 20, Ilias, 27, and Mostak, 26. They are all residents of Dikrichar Union under Faridpur Sadar upazila.

According to the case statement, the incident took place in 2019 when the victim visited the Dhalar Mor area of Palladangi to meet a friend. Before her friend arrived, she crossed the river and went to a field of kans grass on a char of the Padma River.

The eight men allegedly raped her and recorded the incident. The video was later circulated on social media.

After the incident came to light, police filed a case and launched an investigation. During the investigation, police arrested Shahin Sheikh, who later gave a confessional statement before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Based on his statement and the investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against the eight accused. The investigation was conducted by then Sub-Inspector Farhad Hossain.

Public Prosecutor Advocate Golam Rabbani Bhuiyan Ratan confirmed the verdict and said the prosecution was satisfied with the court’s decision. He expressed hope that the verdict would help reduce sexual violence in society.