Sylhet’s Khadiza attack case transferred to another court

The case of attempted murder of college girl Khadiza Begum Nargis has been transferred to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in Sylhet.

The case filed under Sections 307, 324 and 326 of the Bangladesh Penal Code was being heard at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which does not have the authority to hand down harsher punishment like the death penalty.

“The case has been transferred because the CMM court lacks the mandate to give capital punishment in one of the sections,” said Additional Public Prosecutor Mahfuzur Rahman.

The hearing will now continue from Mar 5 at the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, he added.

The trial started after the CMM court framed charges against Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Chhatra League Vice-President Badrul Alam on Nov 29.

Khadiza, an honours second-year student of Sylhet Government Women's College, was waylaid and hacked by Badrul on Sylhet MC College premises after she sat an exam on Oct 3 last year.

She was put on life support at Dhaka’s Square Hospital on Oct 4 with injuries all over her bodies including the head.

She sustained brain injuries and on Oct 13, she underwent multiple surgeries as her muscle chain was torn apart.

Khadiza went through three surgeries and was sent to the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed as her left side was paralysed.

After more than three months of treatment and intensive care, she returned home on Feb 24.

Badrul was caught by the mob at the scene and handed over to police. He was expelled from the university, and the ruling party’s student wing after Khadiza’s uncle Abdul Kuddus started a case with Shah Poran Police.

Police collected the video footage of the attack, and Badrul also gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the CrPC.

Sub-Inspector Harunur Rashid, the investigating officer of the case, submitted the chargesheet on Nov 8.

Court has so far heard 34 out of the 36 witnesses.