Dhaka – The Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 of Dhaka on Monday began the trial of the sensational Banani rape case with recording the depositions of the complainant.In a camera trial, Judge Shafiul Azam of the tribunal recorded complainant’s statements keeping the door of the courtroom closed. Before starting to record the statements of the complainant, the judge of the tribunal requested all the media reporters to stay out of the courtroom while recording statement. Only prosecutors and defence lawyers of the case were allowed to stay inside the courtroom.
The victim narrated before the tribunal about her traumatic experience on that night when the incident took place inside a hotel in the city’s Banani, sources said. Later defence lawyer for Naim Ashraf, one of the five accused, cross-examined the complainant. The tribunal then fixed October 31 for the next hearing in the case. On that date, the defence will be allowed to cross-examine the complainant again.
During the Monday’s hearing, all the five accused were produced before the court. They are: Ahmed Shafat, Shafat’s driver Billal Hossain, and his bodyguard Rahmat Ali, Nayem Ashraf and Shadman Sakif.
Earlier on July 13, the same tribunal framed charges against them. Shafat and Nayem were charged with raping the victims while Billal, Rahmat and Sakif were charged with helping the rapists in various ways during and after the incident.
Shafat is the son of Dildar Hossain Selim, one of the owners of Apan Jewellers. On May 6, a university student filed the case with Banani Police Station accusing Shafat, Sakif and three others on the charge of rape.
According to the case statement, two young men including Shafat raped the complainant and another university girl on March 28 at a birthday party at The Raintree Dhaka (hotel) at Banani while three others assisted them. – Special Correspondent
