A Rangpur court on Sunday sentenced a retired assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police and his wife to life term rigorous imprisonment for murdering their housemaid after rape about 15 years back.
Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal judge Zabed Hussain pronounced the verdict in presence of the convicts at the jam-packed courtroom.
"The court also sentenced the couple to 15-year jail term with labour under another section of the case and they will undergo the imprisonments simultaneously," said Special Public Prosecutor Rafique Hasnine.
The convicts are retired ASI Altaf Hossain, 65, and his wife Saleha Begum, 55, of Taluk Rahgu Tampat area under Ward No-33 of Rangpur city.
The prosecution says Manjila Khatun, 14, daughter of Majibar Rahman of the same area, had been working as a domestic servant at Altaf’s house.
Altaf raped Manjila and subsequently strangled her to death on the night of May 24, 2003.
"With a view to divert the rape and murder incidents to another direction, Altaf and his wife Saleha left the body into a nearby paddy field in the same area later that night," said Special PP Rafique.
On the next day, the victim’s mother Rabeya Khatun filed the case at Kotwali police station in this connection accusing the couple.
After investigation, police submitted charge sheet against the couple in court when the trial began.
Rafique said the court found the couple guilty beyond any doubt and handed the verdict against them taking their ages into consideration after examining testimonies of 14 witnesses during the hearing.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
