Noakhali gang rape: Prime accused Ruhul Amin gets bail

The High Court has granted bail to Ruhul Amin, a former Awami League leader and mastermind of the gang-rape of a woman in Noakhali’s Subarnachar upazila for casting her vote for a BNP candidate in the eleventh national parliamentary election held on December 30.

The bench of Justices Mamnoon Rahman and SM Kuddus Zaman on Monday passed the order to allow Ruhul Amin, one year interim bail after hearing a petition filed by Ruhul Amin seeking bail in the case on Thursday.

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They will send the appeal to stay the bail and Chamber Judge of Supreme Court may hold hearing on the appeal on March 25.

On a query why the government lawyer did not oppose the bail plea in the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Biswajit Roy of the bench told journalists, the defense lawyer did not informed them of the developments of the bail plea.

After granting bail the defence lawyer sent the documents to the wrong bench, he claimed.

Also Read- Noakhali gang rape: Police arrest two more suspects

Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Ashek-e-Rasul, who appeared for Ruhul Amin could not be reached over phone.

The High Court also issued a rule asking for a reply within four weeks as to why the bail term will not be extended further.

The 30-year-old woman was forcibly dragged her from her house in the Modhya Bagya village in Subarnachar in the early hours of January 1, and gang-raped; allegedly by 10-15 local Awami League activists.

Later, her husband, who filed a case against nine people with Char Jabbar police alleged that his wife was attacked because she cast her vote for the sheaf of paddy in the 11th general election.

The news of the gang rape shocked the country, sparked protests in Dhaka and elsewhere, and drew condemnation on social media.

Police arrested five people so far—including prime suspect Sohel, 40, and Ruhul Amin— the alleged instigator of the gang rape.