Noakhali gang rape: 10 receive death sentence, 6 life imprisonment

A court in Noakhali has sentenced 10 individuals to death and six others to life imprisonment in connection with the rape of a housewife in Subarnachar upazila on the night of the 11th general election on December 30, 2018.

Noakhali Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal 2 Judge Fatema Ferdous on Monday also imposed a fine of Tk 50,000 on each convict. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional two years of imprisonment.

The convicts are Sohel, 38, Hanif, 30, Swapan, 42, Chowdhury, 25, Badsha Alam Basu, 40, Abul Hossain Abu, 40, Mosharraf, 35, Salauddin, 32, Ruhul Amin, 40, Jasim Uddin, 32, Hasan Ali Bulu, 45, Mintu alias Helal, 28, Murad, 28, Jamal, 28, and Sohel, 28. 

Mintu has been on the run since the incident and was tried in absentia. 

The incident involved the gang rape of a mother of four by 10 to 12 individuals, allegedly for not casting votes for their preferred candidate, according to the rape survivor.

The next day, on December 31 of that year, her husband filed a case with Charjabbar police station under the  Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

On March 27, 2019, the Detective Branch of police pressed charges against 16 people, including expelled Awami League leader Ruhul Amin.