Investigation officer’s testimony ends in Kalabagan teen rape-murder case

The testimony of the investigation officer in the 2021 rape and murder case of an O-Level student of Mastermind School has concluded, with the Dhaka tribunal fixing November 25 for the next hearing.

Police Inspector Khaled Saifullah of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), the investigation officer, was cross-examined by defence lawyers Borhan Uddin and Faruk Ahmed at the Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7, presided over by Judge Sohel Rana.

So far, 21 of the 55 prosecution witnesses have testified in the case. Accused Iftekhar Fardin Dihan, who is in jail, was produced before the tribunal during the hearing.

On January 7, 2021, the teenage girl was taken to Anwar Khan Modern Hospital in Dhaka’s Kalabagan area by Dihan after she reportedly fell unconscious at his residence. Doctors declared her dead.

The victim’s father filed a case with Kalabagan Police Station that night, alleging that Dihan had raped and killed his daughter. A post-mortem examination reportedly found genital injuries and excessive bleeding, which was identified as the cause of death.

Dihan later made a confessional statement before a court and has remained in custody.

On November 8, 2021, the PBI submitted a charge sheet against Dihan. The tribunal framed charges against him on February 16, 2022 and ordered the trial to begin. 

- MAL/MaT