Panchagarh court on Wednesday sentenced a young man to life imprisonment on charge of raping a teenage girl in 2013, promising to marry her.

Judge MA Nur of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 handed down the verdict in presence of the accused, Mohammad Firoz, 25, son of Hanif Uddin of Kaurgachh village in Tentulia upazila.

The court also fined the convict Tk 1 lakh, in default he is to suffer six months more in prison. The court also asked him to pay Tk 1000 per month to the victim to bear the expense of the baby girl, born during the trial of the case, until her marriage.

According to the prosecution, Firoz raped the 17-year-old girl of the same village, promising to marry her. Later, the victim became pregnant and asked Firoz to marry her, but he refused.

Later, the victim lodged a rape case with Tentulia Police Station on 26 January, 2013, accusing Firoz and ten others of his family.

After investigation, police submitted the charge sheet against Firoz on March 31 the same year.

After examining the records, the court handed down the verdict against Firoz. The court also acquitted ten others as charges brought against them could not be proved.