Three get life in rape case

The convicts are Ataur Rahman, director of Panchagarh-based NGO Samaj Kalyan Shangstha, and his accomplices Anukul Roy and Laila Khatun.

AFM Aminul Islam, judge of Rajshahi Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal, delivered the judgement in absentia of convict Anukul Roy.

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The girls of Bhelakopa village in Deviganj of Panchagarh were raped in the NGO's Laxmipur office on August 1 in 1998. But the Deviganj police refused to register a case against the accused when the girls went to the thana the following day.

Police recorded a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act of 1995 after 12 days of the incident that flared up unrest among local people.

Police submitted a charge sheet on September 24, 1998 in this cinnection. The case was shifted to Rajshahi Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal on December 27, 2002.

PP Ketab Uddin moved the case for the state while Advocate Kamrul Monir, Shariful Islam and Helaluddin pleaded for the accused.