A court in Tangail has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a woman in Madhupur. The verdict was delivered by the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, which also imposed financial penalties on the convicted individuals.
The judgement was announced on Tuesday afternoon by Anam Elias, judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal and District Judge of Tangail. The convicted men are A. Rahim, Shafiqul Islam Shafi and Shamsul Haque Shamsu.
According to the prosecution, the incident took place on 22 June 2023. The victim was allegedly taken from Jamalpur to the Dokhola forest area in Madhupur, Tangail, after being lured with the promise of being shown a prospective marriage proposal. Once she reached the area, one of the accused allegedly assaulted her, followed by the involvement of the other two accused.
Following the incident, a case was filed at Madhupur Police Station. Investigators later completed their inquiry and submitted a charge sheet before the court. During the trial, the court examined the evidence and testimonies presented by both sides before reaching its decision.
Special Public Prosecutor for the state, Advocate Mohammad Omrao Khan Dipu, said the court found the accused guilty under relevant sections of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000.
The court sentenced the main accused, A. Rahim, under Section 7 of the Act to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk 20,000. He was also sentenced under Section 9(3) to life imprisonment with hard labour and fined Tk 100,000. If he fails to pay the financial penalties, he will have to serve additional imprisonment as ordered by the court.
The other two accused, Shafiqul Islam Shafi and Shamsul Haque Shamsu, were convicted under Section 9(3) of the same law. Each was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Tk 100,000. In case of failure to pay the fine, they will face an additional two years of simple imprisonment.
Cases involving violence against women and children remain a major concern in Bangladesh, with courts often emphasising strict punishment to ensure justice for victims and discourage similar crimes. Legal experts say timely trials and effective enforcement of verdicts are essential in strengthening public confidence in the justice system.
The verdict brings the judicial proceedings in the case to an end after nearly three years of legal process. Officials involved in the case said the ruling reflects the court’s commitment to addressing serious offences against women through appropriate legal measures.
