Sylhet girl Khadiza appears in court over case in machete attack

Khadiza Begum Nargis has testified before a Sylhet court in the case over a machete attack by a local leader of the ruling party's student front.

Sylhet Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 Feb 2017, 06:18 AM
Updated : 26 Feb 2017, 10:29 AM

Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL) Sylhet university unit leader Badrul Alam is being tried for the October 2016 attack at the chief metropolitan magistrate's court.

BCL is the student affiliate of the ruling Awami League.

After recording her testimony, which concluded witnesses' depositions in the trial, the court fixed Mar 1 for the next hearing.

Khadiza arrived at the court premises around 10:30am on Sunday, said Additional Public Prosecutor Mahfuzur Rahman.

Defendant Badrul was also brought to the court for the hearing.

Khadiza broke down in tears while giving her testimony.

Badrul had been employed as a live-in tutor at Khadiza’s house 5-6 years ago and had begun harassing her at that time, she said.

“On Oct 3, I was walking out of an exam when Badrul ambushed me near the MC college pond,” Khadiza said. “Badrul’s vicious attack has left me disabled for life. I demand the maximum penalty for him.”

Defence counsel Sajjadur Rahman Chowdhury then cross-examined Khadiza.

The defence presented a photo to the witness and asked whether she was the one depicted in it. Khadiza denied the photo was of her. Asked whether she had been in a romantic relationship with Badrul, she said ‘no’.

The judge then asked Badrul whether he would defend himself, which he declined.

Badrul Alam, former Chhatra League vice-president at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology hacked Khadiza with a sharp weapon outside Sylhet MC College on Oct 3 last year.

The blows ruptured her skull, causing injury to her brain.

She was admitted to Dhaka's Square Hospital where she went through a number of surgeries before being n transferred to CRP at Savar.

Khadiza received physiotherapy and counseling from an eight-member team at CRP for three months before returning to Sylhet on Friday.

Badrul carried out the attack reportedly for an unrequited love affair with Khadiza.

He was caught by the people who witnessed the incident and was handed over to the police immediately after the attack.

A video of Badrul hacking Khadiza went viral on the social media triggering protests across Bangladesh.

Khadiza's family started an attempted murder case against Badrul, who has who confessed to attacking the college girl under Section 164 in court.

On Nov 8 last year, police submitted the chargesheet against Badrul and the trial started on Nov 29 after the court indicted the former Chhatra League leader.