Life Sentence for Faridpur College Student Assault

In a landmark verdict, a Faridpur court has sentenced Sohel Sheikh to life imprisonment for the abduction and sexual assault of a female college student. In addition, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 taka, with a further one-year prison term in the event of non-payment.

The judgment was delivered on Sunday, 15 March, at 12:00 noon by Judge Shamima Parvin, presiding over the Faridpur Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence against Women and Children. The convict was present in court at the time of the ruling.

Sohel Sheikh, the convicted individual, hails from Char Narandia village in Alfadanga Upazila, Faridpur, and is the son of Md. Iqbal Sheikh.

According to the charge sheet and court records, the victim was a student of the 11th grade at Boalmari Women’s College. On 10 September 2016, around 5:00 PM, after returning home from a private tuition session, she was forcibly abducted near her residence in Alfadanga. Despite repeated appeals by her father, Nozurul Islam, to the parents of the accused to return his daughter, she was not released. The assailants reportedly subjected her to sexual assault across multiple locations and allegedly attempted to traffic her abroad, according to subsequent investigations.

Faced with these circumstances, the victim’s father filed a formal complaint at Boalmari Police Station on 24 September 2016. After years of meticulous investigation, collection of evidence, and judicial proceedings, the tribunal has now delivered its verdict.

Speaking on the outcome, public prosecutor Golam Rabbani confirmed that the court had found the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt under the Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Act. He described the crime as “extremely heinous” and emphasised that such incidents are entirely unacceptable in a healthy society. “This verdict will serve as a precedent in the fight against sexual violence and abuse in our communities,” he added.

Case Summary

The ruling has been widely regarded as a significant legal precedent, reinforcing societal commitment to protecting women and children. Judges and prosecutors alike have stressed that such judgments are critical in deterring similar crimes and upholding justice.