Rain Tree rape: Hearing on framing charges deferred

Staff Correspondent: A Dhaka court has deferred the date of hearing on framing charges in the rape case of two universities girls at Rain Tree hotel in the capital's Banani.

The court also fixed July 13 for the next hearing in this regard.

Judge Shafiul Azam of the Second Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression passed the order on Sunday.

It was scheduled for hearing on framing charges in the case on July 9.

But, M A B M Khairul Islam Liton, the lawyer of Nayem Ashraf, one of the main accused of the twin rape case, filed a petition seeking time referring that he was not ready for the hearing.

Time petition was also submitted on behalf of the other accused on the day.

Later, the court deferred the hearing date.

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/July 09, 2017/Mamun Khan/A K Azad