Chattogram Tribunal Begins Trial in Child Rape Case

A special tribunal in Chattogram has officially framed charges against a 30-year-old man, initiating a fast-tracked trial for the rape of a four-year-old child in the city's Baklia area.

Judge Syeda Hafsa Jhuma of the Chattogram Metropolitan Child Violence Prevention Tribunal passed the order on Tuesday. To ensure swift justice, the tribunal has scheduled witness testimonies to begin immediately on Wednesday.

During Tuesday's hearing, the state initially appointed a defense lawyer for the accused, Monir Hossain. However, Hossain informed the court he wished to hire his own counsel, prompting the judge to grant a one-hour recess so he could contact his family.

Public Prosecutor Mahmud-ul Alam Chowdhury Maruf stated that the tribunal accepted the police charge sheet on Monday, framing charges the very next day to expedite the legal process.

Police say the case is built on comprehensive evidence. According to the charge sheet, the investigation team secured the victim's medical and DNA reports, gathered statements from 13 witnesses, and recorded Hossain’s confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The victim's statement was also recorded under Section 22 of the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act.

The assault occurred on the afternoon of May 21 inside a warehouse in the Nur Hossain Chairmanghata area of Baklia. The child's father subsequently filed a case with the Baklia Police Station, leading to the rapid arrest of the suspect, who originally hails from Cumilla's Muradnagar upazila.

The arrest of the accused sparked massive local outrage that escalated into violence.

According to police, as officers prepared to transport Hossain to the police station on the day of his arrest, a large mob obstructed them. The crowd pelted law enforcement with bricks and set multiple police vehicles on fire, resulting in injuries to several police personnel and journalists who required hospital treatment.

Following the unrest, Sub-Inspector Mobarak Hossain filed a separate case regarding the attack on law enforcement. The case names 58 specific individuals and implicates up to 500 unidentified attackers.