Life-term convicted rapist marries rape victim at jail gate

Subrata Kumar Bala, senior jail super of Rajshahi Central Jail, said the marriage was arranged at the directive of the court. Relatives of the bride were asked to remain present at 11:00am at the jail gate. After the arrival of 14 guests of the bride and bridegroom, they were taken to the jail super’s room. Afterward, the bridegroom went there wearing a white punjabi. His son was asked to stand on the opposite side of his father. The smiling detained father signed in the registrar. At that time, the priest recited the rites in Sanskrit and the formalities of the marriage concluded through the exchange of garlands three times by the bride and groom.

The senior jail super of Rajshahi Central Jail gifted a Qatan saree to the bride.

The bridegroom who was sentenced for life-term for rape of the woman, said he had been in jail for long eight years. “I feel happy after the marriage,” he said.

The bridegroom said she also felt happy following the marriage.

Senior Jail Super Subrata Kumar Bala said he had no information about the wedding of the convicts at jail gate in the history of Bangladesh. He thought it was the first marriage at the jail gate. The marriage was conducted through the religious rites. Guests and employees were also offered sweets.

He said a report on successful completion of the wedding would be sent to the court as soon as possible.

It was learnt from the case statement that the rape victim woman was the relative of the convict. Both of them hailed from Godagari upazila in Rajshahi district. They had a love affair. When the girl became pregnant in 2011, her lover declined to marry her. The girl was just 14 years’ old at that time. On October 25 of that year, the girl filed a rape case with Godagari Police Station against her lover.

On January 29, 2012, the Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal of Rajshahi framed charges against the accused. On June 12 of that year, the tribunal awarded the accused life-term jail and fined Tk 50,000. Since then the convict has been remaining in jail. Later, he filed for bail to the High Court.

During the hearing on bail prayer at a High Court bench on October 22 last, the lawyers representing both the convict and complainant told the court they had agreed to marry each other.

After the hearing, the High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice M Mostafizur Rahman ordered to arrange their marriage at the jail gate. The jail super concerned was also asked to submit a written report within 30 days in this regard. The bench delivered the verdict at the consent of both sides.