‘Forced marriage with rapist’: HC says it will observe govt’s step

The High Court today said it is waiting to see what steps the government takes over the allegation of “forced marriage” of a rape victim with the rapist by the police in Pabna.

“The incident is under our surveillance. Let us see what steps the administration takes regarding it,” the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Khairul Alam said.

The bench said this when Jamiul Haque Faisal, a Supreme Court lawyer, placed before this bench some newspapers including the Daily Prothom Alo containing the report on the incident for necessary order.

Advocate Faisal told the court that Officer-in-Charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station Obaidul Huq and other police personnel are reportedly threatening the rape victim and the Kazi (marriage registrar) who had refused to conduct the marriage.

If an action is not taken, the investigation into the incident may take another turn, the advocate said.

The court then informed that the authorities concerned have reportedly issued a show cause notice against the OC and the main accused have already been arrested.

The court also asked the lawyer to approach to this court after one week if proper steps are not taken over the incident.

The 33-year-old rape victim, who was already married and mother of three children, filed a case with Pabna Sadar Police Station against five people including Md Russel and Ghontu on Monday on charge of raping her.

On September 5, police got her married with one of the rape accused Md Russel despite her being already married, our Pabna correspondent reports quoting the case statement.    

After she filed the case, the law enforcers arrested Russel and Ghontu yesterday and today respectively, said Md Rafikul Islam, superintendent of police (SP) of Pabna.