Three Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Gang Rape in Tangail

A special tribunal in Tangail has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their involvement in the abduction and gang rape of a woman in Modhupur. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday afternoon by Judge A.N.M. Illias of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. The court premises saw heightened security as the long-awaited judgment was read out in a crowded courtroom.

The three convicted individuals have been identified as Abdul Rahim, Shafiqul Islam Shafi, and Samshul Haq Samshu. All the defendants were present in the dock to hear the final ruling. Following the announcement, law enforcement officials quickly escorted the convicts to the district jail under strict security measures to begin serving their sentences.

According to the details provided by the prosecution, the harrowing incident took place on 22 June 2023. The victim was lured away from her home in Jamalpur under the false pretext of being introduced as a prospective bride. Instead, she was taken to the secluded and densely forested Dokhola forest area situated in Modhupur, Tangail. Taking advantage of the isolated surroundings, the prime accused, Abdul Rahim, initially assaulted and raped the woman. Shortly afterwards, the other two accomplices, Shafiqul and Samshul, joined him in committing the gang rape. Following her ordeal, the victim managed to file a formal complaint at the Modhupur Police Station, prompting an immediate investigation. Authorities quickly gathered physical evidence, interviewed witnesses, and submitted a comprehensive charge-sheet to the court.

Advocate Md Omrao Khan Dipu, the Special Public Prosecutor handling the case, confirmed the legal parameters of the sentencing. He stated that the prosecution had successfully established the guilt of all three men beyond reasonable doubt. For his leading role in the crime, Abdul Rahim was penalised under two separate sections of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000. Under Section 7, which deals with abduction, he received a 15-year rigorous prison sentence along with a fine of 20,000 Taka. Additionally, under Section 9(3), covering gang rape, he was handed a life sentence with a fine of 100,000 Taka. Failure to pay these fines will result in an extension of his prison term.

The remaining two defendants, Shafiqul Islam Shafi and Samshul Haq Samshu, were also found guilty under Section 9(3) of the same Act. The tribunal sentenced each of them to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of 100,000 Taka. Should they fail to pay, both men will face an additional two years of simple imprisonment. State lawyers expressed satisfaction with the swift judicial process, noting that such clear judgments serve as a robust deterrent against heinous crimes against women.