Suspended Assistant Super of Police gets bail in rape case

Court decision

A Dhaka tribunal today granted ad-interim bail to Sohel Uddin Prince, a suspended assistant superintendent of police (ASP), in a case filed over raping a woman in 2021.

Judge (in-charge) Sabera Sultana Khanam of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-6 of Dhaka passed the order after accused Sohel surrendered in the court, seeking bail in the case.

During the hearing, defense lawyer argued that his client secured bail for a period of six weeks from the High Court. The apex court also directed the accused to surrender before the trial court before expiry of the period. The prosecution, however, opposed it saying that the charges brought against the accused were primarily proved.

On July 25, the same tribunal issued an arrest warrant against suspended ASP Sohel after accepting the charges brought against him in the case.

According to the case statement, the victim went to the Ramna Police Officers’ Mess around 7:00pm on February 4, 2021, and was raped there by the accused at gunpoint.

Following the incident, the victim filed a case against Sohel with the tribunal on November 23 last year.

After hearing, the tribunal ordered the Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court to conduct a judicial enquiry into the matter and to submit a report while a Metropolitan Magistrate conducted a judicial enquiry and found the incident true.

The magistrate then sent the report to the tribunal for the next course of action.

Earlier, the accused was sued by his wife for torturing her for Tk 10 lakh dowry, following which he was suspended. - Special Correspondent