Dhaka, Jan 8 – A case has been filed over the death of an O-level student who was “sexually assaulted” and “killed” on Thursday in the capital’s Kalabagan.
The 17-year-old victim’s father filed the case against her boyfriend Fardin Iftekhar Dihan on the night of the incident, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Division) Sajjadur Rahman said.
“A-level student Dihan was accused of rape and murder. And we had shown him arrested and kept three more suspects in custody for interrogation.”
“Police produced Dihan before a Dhaka court on Friday and applied to have him remanded in custody,” Sajjadur said.
Earlier, the law enforcers recovered the 17-year-old victim’s body from a city hospital and arrested Dihan and three others in connection with the incident.
The victim went to a friend’s house in Kalabagan for group study, family sources said.
Next, Dihan “raped” the girl and took her to the hospital. Doctors informed the law enforcers that the victim was brought dead.
Sajjadur said, “We are still not sure about the cause of her death and can figure it out after receiving the autopsy report.”
Rape still pervasive despite stronger law
The government last November amended the law to ensure the death penalty for rape.
The nationwide protest sparked by gang rape incidents in Sylhet MC College hostel and Noakhali prompted the government to make the swift change.
The cabinet approved the amendment on October 12 last year. A day later, the President promulgated an ordinance in this regard.
After that 160 incidents of rape took place until December 31, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) said.
Last year, 1,627 women became a victim of rape. Fifty-three of them were killed after rape and 14 of the victims took their own lives, according to ASK.
But the actual number is believed to be higher as many victims choose not to report assaults fearing their safety. – UNB
