Banani rape: No rape evidence found

Staff Correspondent: No evidence of rape was found after examining the bodies of the two private university girls who were allegedly raped at a hotel in the capital's posh area Banani.

Dr Sohel Mahmud, the chief of Forensic Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), came up with this information on Thursday noon.

The chief of the DMCH forensic department said they found no evidence of rape after examining the bodies of the two private university girls reportedly raped at the Banani hotel in the capital.

About the Banani rape victims, he said no evidence of rape was found after examining the bodies of the two private university girls as two months have already elapsed since the incident. Basically, the evidence of rape lasts for several hours after the incident. Later, the evidence of rape gets destroyed as the time advances.

In case of Banani rape incident, forensic test has been carried out on the bodies of the two girls one and a half months later. That's why, no sperm was found in their bodies, he said.

Dr Sohel Mahmud said the forensic test report will be handed over to Ismat Ara Ame, inspector of Women Support and Investigation Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the investigation officer of the case.

Earlier on May 7, a five-member medical board was formed over the rape incident with the chief of the DMCH forensic department Dr Sohel Mahmud in the head.

Shafat Ahmed and Shadman Sakif, both are accused of the twin rape, gave confessional statement to the court on May 18. Shafat's driver Billal Hossain also gave the confessional statement while his bodyguard Rahamat Ali was sent to jail after remand in this connection.

One of the rape victims filed a case with Banani Police Station on May 6 accusing five people.

Of the accused, Shafat Ahmed, 26, and Nayem Ashraf, 30, were sued for raping the two female university students while Shadman Shakif, 24, Shafat's driver Billal, 26, and his bodyguard Rahamat Ali for abetting in the crime.

According to the case statement, the plaintiff along with her friend went to a residential hotel at Banani to attend the birthday party of Shafat around 9:00pm on March 28.

The two prime accused -- Shafat and Nayem -- confined them to two rooms of the hotel at gunpoint after the rooftop birthday party was over at midnight. The two girls were made to drink liquor before being raped. Shafat raped the plaintiff while Nayem her friend.

Shafat's driver Billal filmed the incident, she said in the FIR adding that they got introduced with Shafat and Nayem through Shadman Shakif.

risingbd/DHAKA/June 1, 2017/Nur/Amirul