DNA evidence confirms paternity in landmark rape case as Bangladesh court hands down life sentence
Photo Collected
A district court in Netrokona has sentenced a 35-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of a widow, a verdict that also legally confirms his paternity of the child born from the assault thirteen years ago. Judge A.K.M. Emdadul Haque of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered the ruling on Wednesday in the presence of the defendant.
Beyond the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of 100,000 taka on the convict, stipulating an additional year of imprisonment should he fail to pay. According to state prosecutor Nurul Kabir, the judgment provides the teenager with formal legal recognition of her paternity, ensuring she maintains full inheritance rights to her father’s estate.
The case dates back to March 1, 2013, when the defendant attacked the victim in a village within the Barhatta sub-district. Following the incident, the victim’s sister filed a formal complaint under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act on March 10. Police submitted a charge sheet to the court in September of that same year.
During the lengthy legal proceedings, the victim gave birth to a daughter. The prosecution successfully utilized DNA testing, which definitively linked the defendant to the child, alongside testimonies from eight witnesses and additional forensic evidence. The court’s decision marks a rare legal milestone in securing both justice for the survivor and identity rights for the child born of the crime.
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