UP chairman ‘settles’ rape case in Khagrachhari; fines rapist Tk 10,000

A local Awami League leader "settled" the complaint of rape of an underage Marma girl at Mahalchhari upazila in Khagrachhari on Monday night by fining the rapist Tk 10,000 and preventing the victim from taking legal action.

Ratan Kumar Shil, chairman of No-1 Mahalchhari Union Parishad, fined the alleged rapist in presence of the headman and a member of the parishad on August 1 afternoon.

President of Mahalchhari unit AL Ratan said he settled the matter following the request of the guardians.

Kalachan Chowdhury, headman of the vicinity who was present at the meeting, said the accused Al-Amin confessed to raping the girl.

"I was present at the meeting following the request of the chairman," he said, adding that it was a mistake to attend such a meeting.

The victim's brother-in-law claimed that Al Amin took the girl to the remote Tilapara area on Monday night and raped her there.

The victim bore lots of injury marks on her body, he said.

Demanding the punishment of the accused, he said they could not file a case in connection with the incident following the order of the chairman.

Priyanka Datta, upazila nirbahi officer, said she was not aware of the incident.