Life Sentence for Healer’s Rape

A court in Meherpur has sentenced a self-styled traditional healer to life imprisonment for raping a woman who sought his help in the hope of conceiving a child. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday by Judge Ali Masud Sheikh of the Meherpur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, has been widely viewed as a firm judicial stance against sexual violence perpetrated under the guise of treatment and spiritual healing.

The convicted man, Muja Sheikh, popularly known as “Muja Kabiraj”, aged 60, hails from Sheikhpara in Pirojpur village under Meherpur Sadar Upazila and is the son of Hazrat Ali. In addition to life imprisonment, the court imposed a fine of Tk 50,000. Should the fine remain unpaid, the convict will be required to serve a further one-year term of rigorous imprisonment. The court observed that abusing a position of trust and exploiting a couple’s vulnerability aggravated the gravity of the offence.

According to the prosecution, the crime took place on 3 March 2021. A childless couple from Buichitala Majhpara in Darshana Upazila of Chuadanga travelled to Pirojpur in Meherpur after hearing claims that the healer could assist with fertility-related problems. Once there, the accused led the couple into a room under the pretext of providing treatment. At a critical moment, he administered a substance to the husband, rendering him unconscious, and then raped the woman. The next day, the victims reported the incident to Meherpur Sadar Police Station, initiating a criminal case.

Police investigators subsequently found the allegations to be substantiated and submitted a charge sheet against the accused on 19 November 2021. During the trial, the prosecution presented testimonial and medical evidence to support the charges, while the defence contested the account. After examining the evidence and witness statements, the tribunal concluded that the offence had been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The case was conducted for the state by Public Prosecutor Advocate Mostafizur Rahman Tuhin, while Advocate Miajjan Ali represented the defence. Reacting to the verdict, the public prosecutor said the court had delivered justice to a vulnerable woman who was assaulted while seeking medical help, adding that such decisive punishment could help deter crimes of sexual violence and the exploitation of patients by unlicensed practitioners.

Legal observers and rights advocates note that rural communities often rely on informal healers due to limited access to regulated healthcare, particularly for sensitive issues such as infertility. This dependence can expose vulnerable families to exploitation and abuse. They have urged greater public awareness, improved access to legitimate medical services, and stronger monitoring of unregistered practitioners to prevent similar crimes in the future.

Key Case Facts

The ruling underscores the judiciary’s resolve to protect victims of sexual violence and to hold perpetrators accountable, particularly where crimes are committed through deception and abuse of trust.