Rape of DU Student: Trial of lone accused begins

The trial of the case -- filed against Md Majnu for the rape of a Dhaka University student in the capital's Kurmitola area -- began at a Dhaka tribunal yesterday with the deposition of the complainant.

Judge Begum Mosammat Quamrunnahar of the Women and Children's Repression Prevention Tribunal-7 recorded the statement.

Later, the witness was cross-examined by the defence lawyer on behalf of the accused.

Court sources said the complainant earlier narrated the incident before the tribunal and demanded exemplary punishment for the accused.

The tribunal fixed today for next hearing of the case.

The tribunal also asked the victim to appear before it the same day to give her deposition.

The tribunal yesterday asked journalists not to write or print details of the statements.

During yesterday's hearing, the lone accused --Majnu -- was produced before the tribunal.

On January 5th, a DU student was raped while she was walking from Kurmitola bus stop to a friend's house near Shewra Rail gate in the capital around 7:30pm after getting off a university bus.

The next day, the girl's father filed the case with Cantonment Police Station, accusing unknown people.

On January 8th, Rab arrested 30-year-old Majnu from Shewra area.

On March 16th, Inspector Abu Bakar Siddique, of the detective branch of police and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against Majnu to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka.

On August 26th, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7 of Dhaka framed charges against the accused in the case.