Life imprisonment for fugitive accused in housewife rape case

A court in Sreepur, Gazipur, has sentenced a man named Atikul to life imprisonment with hard labor for the rape of a housewife. He has also been fined Tk. 20,000; failure to pay this fine will result in an additional two months of hard labor. The defendant was not present in court when the verdict was delivered.

The verdict was announced on Wednesday (October 28) by Farhana Ferdous, a District and Sessions Judge presiding over the Gazipur Tribunal for the Prevention of Oppression against Women and Children.

According to court sources, on the night of May 7, 2007, a housewife named Mst. Ruma Akter, 22, stepped outside her home in Kewa Purba Khanda village, under Sreepur Police Station, to attend to a call of nature. Her neighbor, Atikul had hidden himself under a bed inside the house, where he had been lying in wait. The case statement alleges that when Ruma returned and lay down, Atikul emerged from beneath the bed, attacked her, and raped her by force.

Following the incident, the victim underwent medical treatment and a forensic examination at the Gazipur Sadar Hospital. After the conclusion of the trial proceedings, the court found the charges proven based on the evidence presented and handed down the sentence.

The convicted man, Atikul, son of the late Abdul Hamid, is currently a fugitive. As per the court's directive, his sentence will commence from the moment he is arrested or surrenders to the court. However, in accordance with Section 35A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, any time previously spent in custody may be deducted from the sentence, where legally applicable.

Satisfied with the verdict, state counsel Advocate Abu Taher Nayan stated that the judge reached this decision after reviewing the evidence and other data presented in court. He believes that the victim has received justice through this verdict. It is now crucial to apprehend the fugitive and enforce the sentence. The prosecution hopes that steps will be taken to bring him to justice promptly and ensure the implementation of the court's ruling.

-    RS/NS