HC Terms for Bail: Rape accused marries victim in Feni jail

A man detained in a rape case yesterday married his victim at Feni jail gate in order to get bail in line with a directive from the High Court.

The marriage took place in the presence of family members from both sides around noon.

Moniruzzaman, local assistant commissioner of land and executive magistrate, and marriage registrar Abdur Rahim were also present.

Zahirul Islam Zia, the accused, son of a local union parishad member, raped the woman of Chardarbesh area in Feni's Sonagazi on May 27, according to the case statement.

The following day, the victim filed the case under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act with Sonagazi Police Station.

Both the victim and the accused said they were involved in a romantic relationship and got intimate after Zia promised to marry her.

As he refused to keep his promise, she filed a rape case against him, said court sources.

On May 29, police arrested Zia, who later filed a bail petition with the HC.

During the hearing on the bail petition on November 1, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued a condition that Zia would be granted bail if he married the victim as they had a relationship previously.

Zia's lawyer Alamgir Faruk Chowdhury agreed with the condition and told the HC that his client would marry the victim if the court granted him bail, Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi told The Daily Star yesterday.

The same day, the HC ordered the jail authorities to allow Zia and the victim to get married and submit a report in 30 days after compliance.

DAG Bappi said the trial proceedings in the rape case against Zia will not be halted after their marriage and the case will be settled based on statements from the witnesses and victim and relevant documents.

He, however, did not give further details about the accused Zia and the victim, but said the HC will consider granting bail to Zia once the jail authorities submit the compliance report.

Bappi added that same HC bench has so far issued directives on four accused rapists in separate cases to marry their victims considering all the relevant aspects and documents.