Three sentenced to death for gang-rape, murder in Keraniganj

A Dhaka court has sentenced three people to death for the gang-rape and murder of a teenage girl in Dhaka's Keraniganj three years ago.

Dhaka Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Munshi Md Moshiar Rahman delivered the verdict in the case on Tuesday.

The convicts are 25-year-old Sajib from Keraniganj's Kholamora village, 23-year-old Rakib from Faridpur’s Khakanda village, and 26-year-old Shawon, aka Bhalka Shawon, from Shariatpur's Palong.

Public Prosecutor Ershad Alam George said that, in addition to the death sentences, all three convicts were also sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Tk 10,000 each for hiding the body after the murder. If they fail to pay the fine, they will receive another year in prison.

"The tribunal ordered the Dhaka district magistrate to collect the fines by selling the fixed and liquid assets of the convicts and deposit the amount in the national treasury."

Ali Akbar, 22 and Riaz, 22 - two other suspects in the case - were acquitted as the allegations against them were not proven.

Three suspects - Rakib, Riaz and Shawon - were brought to the court from jail before the verdict was announced. After the sentencing, arrest warrants were issued for Rakib, Shawon and Sajib. Rakib and Shawon were then taken to prison. Sajib is absconding.

According to the case documents, on Jun 11, 2022, police were informed via the National Emergency Service Hotline 999 that a body was seen floating in the pond near West Bamansur Jaame Masjid in Keraniganj. A friend of the victim identified it once it was recovered. Later, police arrested Shawon in connection with her death.

In his confessional statement to the court, Shawon said he Rakib, Sajib, and Ali Akbar raped the teenage girl and then strangled her to death. Later, they dumped the body into the pond near West Bamansur Jaame Masjid.

Rakib and Sajib were also arrested. They gave similar statements.

Sub Inspector Alok Kumar Dey of the Keraniganj Model Police Station submitted the charge sheet against five suspects to the court on Sept 30, 2023 following the investigation.

The court indicted the suspects and began the trial. The tribunal heard the testimonies of 19 witnesses and announced the verdict on Tuesday.