Rapist handed life sentence after 13 years

A Rangpur court yesterday sentenced a man to life-term imprisonment for raping an underage girl in the district's Pirgachha Upazila, 13 years ago.

The court also mentioned in the order that the boy born from the rape would be the heir of the man. Besides, the convict has to bear his all his expenses, mentioned the judgment.

The accused Shafiqul Islam was present at the court during announcement of the verdict by Md Rokonuzzaman, judge of Woman and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 in Rangpur, at a crowded courtroom.

According to prosecution, the girl of Annodanagar village in Pirgachha Upazila of Rangpur was 14 years old at the time.

She and her siblings lived at her grandmother's home after their mother underwent separation from her husband. Shafiqul, who was 22-year-old then, often harassed the girl. Shafiqul called the girl at his vacated home on October 26 in 2007, and raped her. Relatives and neighbours of the girl came to know of the incident when she became pregnant.

Shafiqul, a betel leaf trader, and his relatives pressured the girl to abort the child, but she refused to yield.

Later, her family members went to Pirgachha Police Station to file a case, but police advised them to file the case with the court.

The victim filed a case with the court on February 25, 2008, accusing Shafiqul Islam and his parents.

The girl gave birth to a boy on August 4, the same year.

On the other hand, accused Shafiqul got married.

Completing the investigation, police filed charge-sheet accusing Shafiqul Islam to the court. DNA tests were also carried out of the child and Shafiqul.

Jahangir Hossain Tuhin, the Public Prosecutor of the tribunal, said the court also fined the man Tk 1 lakh.

If the man does not any inheritance to leave behind, the state will bear his expense, the court ordered.

In a similar judgment on January 17, the same court had convicted a man to life-term imprisonment and ensured social recognition of the child born from the rape.