Firoz Islam, a rape convict sentenced to life imprisonment in a case involving a 15-year-old SSC examinee, made a threatening speech in Nazirpur of Gurudaspur upazila in Natore after being released on bail on appeal on Tuesday night.
Firoz, 48, was released from Rajshahi Jail following a higher court order granting him bail. He later held a meeting with local people in Nazirpur, where he made the remarks.
Speaking at the meeting, Firoz said: “So, I have been sentenced. Do you have any idea how far corruption has gone? A case was filed against me. If four people’s testimony can get me life imprisonment, then there are several thousand people here, and they are testifying about what the opponents have done. There will be a trial. But the trial has already begun. I promise you, their trial will take place on this soil of Nazirpur.”
Firoz did not specify whom he was referring to in his remarks. However, it has been reported locally that the father of the victim and plaintiff in the case has already been threatened, reports Bangla Tribune.
The plaintiff said: “I have been threatened with death since the accused was released on bail. He also threatened to carry out the trial on the soil of Nazirpur. We are living in fear with our family. I have informed the police at the police station.”
Firoz is a former headteacher of Nazirpur Mariam Memorial Girls’ High School in Gurudaspur upazila. He is the son of Golam Mostofa of Daulatpur village in Nazirpur and a former senior vice-president of Gurudaspur upazila BNP.
He was accused of abducting and confining a student of the same school and raping her. He also recorded a video of the incident.
Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Md Mahiduzzaman convicted Firoz and delivered the verdict under two separate sections on November 11, 2025.
According to police and local sources, Firoz’s supporters welcomed him with flower garlands at the main gate of Rajshahi Jail on Tuesday after arriving in a convoy of more than 200 vehicles.
He later held a meeting in Nazirpur at night attended by several hundred people, where he made various remarks. A video of his speech has since spread on Facebook, prompting criticism.
Court verdict and bail on appeal
Speedy Trial Tribunal Public Prosecutor Munshi Abul Kalam Azad said the court sentenced Firoz to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of rape and handed him 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under a separate section for abduction.
He said the victim’s family had been satisfied with the court’s verdict but became fearful after Firoz secured bail on appeal.
The girl’s father said: “Since the case was filed until the verdict, Firoz threatened us in various ways with people at different times over 3 years. He tried to persuade us to reach a settlement by offering money. But thinking about my daughter’s and family’s honor, I continued the case despite all the difficulties.”
He added: “We were satisfied with the verdict of the Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal. But after serving 11 months in jail, the accused obtained bail from the Appellate Division. He came out and threatened to carry out the trial. We are now facing serious security concerns.”
What the case records say
According to the case records, the student from a village in Gurudaspur upazila studied at Nazirpur Mariam Memorial Girls’ High School.
On October 1, 2022, when she went to the school to sit for her SSC practical examination, Firoz allegedly took her away in a microbus from in front of the school gate in public, reports Bangla Tribune.
He later allegedly took her to a residential hotel in Rajshahi and sexually violated her. The girl’s father subsequently filed a rape case with Gurudaspur police station against Firoz and his two brothers.
On October 11 that year at around 12:15am, then Rapid Action Battalion-5 (RAB-5) arrested Firoz from a residential hotel in Taktitala of Kaliakair upazila in Gazipur.
Public Prosecutor Munshi Abul Kalam Azad said: “The verdict in the case was scheduled for November 11, 2025. Before that, when Firoz appeared before the court on the date fixed for November 27, the court cancelled his bail and ordered that he be sent to jail. The accused were produced before the court when the verdict was delivered.”
He said: “The final report submitted by the police, witness testimonies and the video of the rape proved two offences against Firoz. The judge then convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment under the rape section and 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under another section for abduction. Police later took Firoz to jail. The other two accused were acquitted.”
Gurudaspur police station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Hannan said: “If the plaintiff in the rape case is unlawfully threatened, legal action will be taken subject to a complaint.”