A Dhaka court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment in a case filed over an acid attack on Eden College student Sharmin Aktar Akhi in 2013.
After examining all the records and testimonies of 21 witnesses, Acid Crime Prevention Tribunal judge Pradip Kumar Roy handed down the verdict on Thursday in presence of Md Monir Uddin.
Monir was also fined Tk1 lakh, which will have to be given to the victim, said state counsel ANM Anwar Ullah.
The court also, under Section 324 of the Penal Code, sentenced Monir to two years imprisonment and fined him Tk10,000 for stabbing the victim. Monir was also given three months additional imprisonment for failing to pay this fine.
Monir was taken to jail after the verdict was delivered.
The court, however, acquitted his associate Masum Mia as charges against him were not proved.
Sharmin’s brother Mohiuddin Ahmed said: “We hoped the court would give the death penalty. If the capital punishment was awarded, then it would have sent a message to the society.”
“I just hope no one else faces what happened with my sister and the loss she has suffered,” he said.
According to case documents, Monir had forcibly taken Sharmin, a fourth year Bangla Department student at the time, to a Kazi Office (marriage registrar office) at Dhaka’s Chankharpool area when she was going to the college and proposed her to marry him on January 15, 2013.
As she turned down his proposal, Monir threw acid on her face and stabbed her several times before fleeing the scene.
She was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital by bystanders.
Later that day, Sharmin’s brother had filed the case accusing Monir and Masum at Bangshal police station.
Case investigation office and DMP Assistant Commissioner Md Fazlur Rahman submitted two charge sheets in the case on March 14 that year against the two accused.
The tribunal framed charges against the two on November 7, 2013.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
