The verdict in a case filed over the rape of two private university students at an upscale hotel in Dhaka’s Banani area has been deferred once again.
“The court is closed due to the death of Abdul Baset Majumder, a senior Supreme Court lawyer. Therefore, the verdict in this case will not be announced today (Wednesday),” confirmed Afroza Farhana Orange, special public prosecutor of Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7.
Earlier, Judge Begum Mosammat Kamrun Nahar of Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7 was expected to deliver the verdict on October 12. However, the verdict was deferred till Wednesday as she was on sick leave.
On October 3, the judge had set October 12 for delivery of the judgment after concluding arguments.
On that day, the court had also cancelled the bail of all the five accused – Shafat Ahmed, Nayeem Ashraf alias Halif, Shadman Sakif, Shafat’s driver Billal Hossain and bodyguard Rahmat Ali – and sent them to prison.
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Shafat is the son of Dildar Ahmed, one of the owners of Apan Jewellers.
After being invited to Shafat’s birthday party, the two girls went to The Raintree Dhaka hotel at Banani around 9pm on March 28, 2017. After the rooftop party ended around midnight, Shafat and Nayeem raped the girls in two hotel rooms, according to case details.
On May 6 that year, one of the two rape survivors filed the case with Banani police, accusing five people including Shafat as the key accused.
Afterwards, law enforcers arrested the five from Dhaka and Sylhet. Later, Shafat, Nayeem, Sakif and Billal gave confessional statements in court.
Police submitted the charge sheet against the five on June 8, 2017.
Also Read- Verdict in Banani double rape case on October 12
Of the five, Shafat and Nayeem were indicted by a court for rape and the rest for aiding and abetting the crime under Section 9 (1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
On July 13, 2017, the court started the trial after framing of charges against the five.