Headmaster sentenced to life imprisonment for abduction and rape of student
A Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal has sentenced a school headmaster, Firoz Ahmed, to life imprisonment and 14 years of rigorous imprisonment on two separate charges - rape and abduction of an SSC candidate from a girls' school in Natore.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Mohammad Mahiduzzaman of the tribunal at around 12pm today (11 November). The court handed down 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for abduction and life imprisonment for rape.
According to police, on 1 October 2022, after completing her practical SSC examination, a student was standing in front of the main gate of Nazirpur Mariam Memorial Girls' School in Natore. The school's headmaster, Firoz Ahmed, allegedly lured her by promising higher marks and took her to a relative's house in Rajshahi. There, he confined and repeatedly raped her under threat of death.
That night, the victim's mother filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act with Gurudaspur Police Station, naming Firoz Ahmed and two others as accused. Later, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Firoz.
Police submitted a charge sheet against three individuals following the investigation. During the charge framing, the court acquitted two of them and began proceedings against Firoz as the sole accused.
After analysing evidence and witness testimonies, and hearing arguments from both sides, the tribunal delivered its verdict today. The convict was present in court during the announcement and was later taken to prison.
Public Prosecutor Munshi Abul Kalam Azad said, "Justice has been served through this verdict. The plaintiff's side has expressed satisfaction with the judgment."