Trial of DU student rape case begins

The trial of the case, which was filed against Md Manju in connection with the rape of a Dhaka University student in Dhaka's Kurmitola area, began at a tribunal today with deposition of the complainant.

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

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

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

The tribunal fixed tomorrow for next hearing of the case. The court also asked the victim to appear before it the same day to give her deposition.

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

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

On August 26, the same tribunal framed charges against the accused in the case.

On March 16, Detective Branch Inspector Abu Bakar Siddique, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet against Majnu to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka.

The IO brought charges of assaulting, snatching mobile phone, wristwatch and money from the victim's possession against the accused.

On January 5, a DU student was raped while she was walking from Kurmitola bus stop to a friend's house near Shewra Rail gate 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 8, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested 30-year-old Majnu from Shewra area.