Dhaka Bar Association Denies Legal Aid to Suspect in Pallabi Child Rape and Murder Case

Photo Collected

A+ A A-

The Dhaka Bar Association has resolved not to provide legal representation to the accused in the case of a child’s rape and murder in Pallabi, the capital.

The association’s executive committee made the decision during an online meeting on Friday morning. Members who defy this resolution and offer legal services to the accused will face disciplinary action after consultation with the executive committee and senior members, according to the association.

Mohammad Kalam Khan, the general secretary of the Dhaka Bar Association, confirmed the decision to Prothom Alo, stating that all 23 members of the executive committee unanimously agreed. “We strongly condemn such a heinous incident. We want to send a message to such criminals that they will not receive legal assistance if they commit such deplorable crimes. No lawyer will stand by them. Their punishment is inevitable,” Khan said.

The association plans to formally communicate this decision to all relevant offices and judges on Saturday morning, emphasizing their demand for justice in such brutal cases.

Anti-corruption commission begins inventory of assets at dismissed general Ziaul Ahsan’s residence

Read More

However, Yasin Arafat, a member of the Dhaka Bar Association, has protested the decision, calling it legally invalid, illogical, and unethical. He argued on Facebook that every accused person has the fundamental right to defend themselves through a lawyer of their choice and that no bar association can infringe upon a member’s right to practice law.

The victim’s dismembered body was recovered from a third-floor apartment in a building in Pallabi on Tuesday. The main accused, Sohel Rana, gave a confessional statement in court on Wednesday, admitting to raping and then killing the child.

Various political parties and organizations have condemned the incident, expressing outrage and calling for a thorough investigation and swift justice. Demonstrations and human chains were held on Friday, with multiple organizations conveying their grief and concern.