Dinajpur rape convict goes into hiding after HC bail stayed

A life-term convict has gone into hiding shortly after the Supreme Court chamber judge stayed the High Court order that granted him bail in a case filed over the rape of a five-year-old girl in Dinajpur.

In the order issued on March 5, the chamber judge also directed convict Saiful Islam to surrender before the lower court.

Deputy Attorney General Md Jahirul Islam Sumon told The Daily Star that chamber judge Md Rejaul Haque stayed the bail of Saiful following a state appeal.

Saiful was convicted in January 2022 for the rape of the girl in 2016.

The HC granted him bail on January 28 this year after he served less than nine years of his sentence.

The victim's family said Saiful appeared in his village in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur after he was released from jail on bail on February 19.

The incident took place on October 18, 2016. He was arrested soon after the father of the victim filed a case on October 20, 2016.

His bail sparked widespread outrage.

"We thought we got justice, then I saw him walking around the village freely. How could this happen?" said the father of the victim.

According to the family and locals, the victim, now 13 years old, continues to live with physical and psychological trauma. She has also stopped attending school.

Her father, a fisherman by profession, said he exhausted almost all of his savings on his daughter's medical treatment and the ongoing legal fees.

Despite receiving financial support from NGOs and the people of his village, the family still had to pay at least Tk 2 lakh to continue fighting for justice.

"I don't know if he will be arrested again or not," said the father, adding that Saiful has not been seen in the village for the last 15 days.

Kaniz Rahman, president of the Dinajpur chapter of Mahila Parishad, said, "We fought for years to secure this conviction for the victim's family. The child, despite her pain, attended court hearings. Now, the convicted rapist walks free?"

Samsun Nahar, manager (gender, Justice and Training) of local NGO Palli Shree, said, "The family is feeling insecure."

Md Abdus Slam, officer-in-charge of Parbatipur Police Station, said they are aware that Saiful went into hiding. Police are regularly visiting the area to ensure the security of the victim's family.