A Chittagong court on Wednesday sentenced Monir Hossain, 30, the sole accused in a case filed over the rape of a four-year-old child in Baklia, to life imprisonment.
Judge Syeda Hafsa Jhuma of the Chittagong Metropolitan Child Violence Prevention Tribunal also fined him Tk50,000 and sentenced him to one more year in jail in default.
Court sources said the judge began reading the verdict at 2:20pm and finished at 3pm. The ruling came eight working days after the trial began and 26 days after the case was filed.
In the observation of the verdict, the court said: “Child rape is one of the most heinous crimes against humanity. Such crimes not only cause physical harm, but also severely damage mental development, self-confidence and normal life. Children are the most vulnerable and essential part of society, and ensuring their safety is the joint responsibility of the state, family and society. When a person sexually abuses a child, he not only violates the rights of that child but also strikes at the moral foundation of society.”
Public Prosecutor Mahmudul Alam Chowdhury of the tribunal said the court delivered the verdict eight working days after the trial began. He added that the accused was present during the announcement and was sent to jail afterwards under court order.
The tribunal framed charges against Monir Hossain on June 9, formally beginning the trial. Baklia Police Station submitted the charge sheet to the court on June 4 after completing the investigation in five working days.
Police said Monir Hossain, a resident of the Gharghata area under Muradnagar upazila in Comilla, had been living in Miah Khan Nagar under Baklia in Chittagong city.
According to the case statement, police arrested him on May 21 in Chairmanghat in Baklia on charges of rape. As he was being taken to the police station, angry locals demanded that he be handed over to them.
At one point, hundreds of people surrounded the police vehicle. Officers stepped back and took positions to control the situation. Around 8pm, police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades, triggering a clash-like situation with protesters.
At around 10:15pm, after the area lost electricity, police brought the accused out of a building and took him into custody. Even then, agitated people remained on the road and set fire to a police vehicle while continuing their protest.
Police said the victim’s father filed a case with Baklia Police Station on May 22 under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, naming Monir Hossain as the sole accused.
Former Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Solaiman of Baklia Police Station said the charge sheet was submitted after collecting the necessary information, evidence and reports. He said the investigation was completed quickly by gathering witness statements, medical reports and other data, and the charge sheet was filed within seven working days.
He added that the case was filed on May 22, while May 25 to May 31 were government holidays, and the charge sheet was submitted on June 4.
Earlier in the day, another widely discussed case in the Chittagong court also saw a verdict. At around 1pm, the court sentenced Md Abir to death in the abduction and murder case of child Alina Islam Ayat.
Sixth Additional Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Muhammad Ali Akkas delivered the verdict.
