A court in Rangamati has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for raping an eight-year-old schoolgirl, in what has been described as the first verdict delivered by the Rangamati Child Violence Prevention Tribunal.
The accused, identified as Ayub Ali Sawdagar, was also fined Tk30,000. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to serve an additional six months in prison.
The verdict was delivered on Monday (24 August) by Tribunal Judge Nishat Sultana. Government prosecutor Advocate Maksuda Haque confirmed the decision to reporters on Tuesday (25 August).
According to the prosecution, the victim was an eight-year-old Class Two pupil from a Marma family in Kashkhali Bangatila area of Kaukhali upazila in Rangamati. The incident took place on 14 January 2015.
Prosecutors said Ayub Ali found the child alone near her home and took her to a nearby paddy field, where he raped her. The child later returned home with torn clothes and bleeding injuries and told her family what had happened.
Her parents subsequently filed a case with Kaukhali police station. The case then went through a lengthy investigation and judicial process before the matter came before the tribunal.
During the trial, evidence presented against the accused was found sufficient to establish the allegations. The court subsequently handed down the life sentence, along with the financial penalty.
Advocate Maksuda Haque said the prosecution was able to establish the charge against Ayub Ali through the evidence presented during the judicial proceedings. She also confirmed that the ruling was the first judgment issued by the Child Violence Prevention Tribunal in Rangamati.
The case dates back more than a decade, highlighting the prolonged nature of the legal process in a serious offence involving a child. For the victim and her family, the case began with the filing of a police complaint after the child disclosed the incident to her parents.
The court’s decision also brings renewed attention to the legal protection available to children who become victims of sexual violence. Such cases require not only investigation and prosecution but also appropriate protection and support for child victims and their families throughout the judicial process.
The tribunal’s first verdict marks a significant development in the handling of child-related violence cases in Rangamati. The sentence against Ayub Ali was imposed after the court found the allegations proved following the completion of the trial.
