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Published : 01 Jul 2026, 05:05 PM
A court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for raping a schoolgirl in Kushtia Sadar Upazila.
State counsel Abdul Majid said that Judge AHM Shafiqul Islam of the Kushtia District and Sessions Judge Court (Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal) delivered the verdict on Wednesday afternoon in the absence of the accused.
The convict, Zahir Raihan, 32, is a native of Sadar Upazila.
Citing the case documents, the lawyer said that Zahir would verbally harass the victim on her way to and from the school. Her family then informed Zahir’s family and other dignitaries about the matter. This enraged Zahir.
On Mar 3, 2018, the student’s parents went to attend a Waz, or gathering for Islamic discussions. Zahir took the opportunity to enter the student’s house and rape her. When the girl screamed, locals rushed in and detained Zahir. They handed him over to the police.
The student's father filed a case naming Zahir at Kushtia Model Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. On Apr 30, 2018, Sub-Inspector Anwarul Islam submitted a charge sheet against Zahir to the court under Section 9(1) of the Act (as amended in 2000 and 2003). While the case was proceeding, Zahir secured bail and subsequently absconded.
The state counsel said that, in addition to life imprisonment, the court has imposed a fine of Tk 50,000 on the accused, with a further six months of imprisonment in default of payment.
