Authorities of Banni's Raintree Hotel on Tuesday denied allegations that they had aided the Banani rape case accused, but refused to elaborate when questioned by journalists.
The hotel authorities expressed the denial through both a written statement and press conference on the day, in which they demanded “exemplary punishment” for the rapists.
In the conference, journalists raised questions regarding the involvement of Raintree Hotel officials in the Banani rape incident as well as on the recovery of alcohol from the hotel during a raid by customs on May 14.
When asked whether they took responsibility for the rape and if any of its officials were involved, the hotel authorities refused to comment and said that it was a matter in the hands of investigators.
Later, when asked how the alcohol recovered on May 14 got to the hotel, the hotel authorities said this was up to the judgment of the journalists, as no alcohol was recovered during a raid by the Narcotics Control Department on May 13.
Subsequently, when pressed as to whether they were accusing customs officials of framing them by bringing the alcohol, the hotel authorities once again refused to comment.
Also Read: Banani rape: Driver claims to have deleted video
After journalists inquired as to why they had called a press conference if they were unwilling to answer questions, the hotel authorities once again refused to comment and claimed all information they wished to share was in the press statement.
In the statement, Raintree Hotel authorities denied reports of deleting surveillance camera footage of March 28 to protect the suspected rapists of the two university students.
The hotel authorities further claimed that the surveillance data was automatically overwritten every 30 days, and as such had already been overwritten by the time they learned of the rape from law enforcement officials 38 days after the rape.
Raintree management also denied reports that its Sales and Marketing Director Mahir Harun had links with Shafat. According to the statement, Shafat had stayed at the hotel only once, on the night of the incident.
The statement said that Raintree Hotel's General Manager Frank Forget did not make any statement suggesting that the two students were not raped.
The development, on the other hand, had tarnished the hotel's image and hurt business, the hotel authorities said.
Two university students filed a case with Banani police on May 6, claiming that they were raped at Raintree hotel by Shafat Ahmed, son of Apan Jewellers owner Dildar Ahmed, and his friends at gunpoint while Shafat's driver recorded their ordeal on phone.
Four of the five accused have so far been arrested.