Rape at MC College: no lawyer willing to defend the accused

 Rahman and Arjun Lasker

No lawyer appeared at the court on behalf of the accused in a case filed over the gang-rape of a woman at Murari Chand College in Sylhet on Friday.

When two accused of the case — Saifur Rahman, prime suspect, and Arjun Lasker — were produced before the court, no lawyer took charge to place arguments on behalf of the accused, our Sylhet correspondent reports.

Saifur and Arjun were seen placing their defence statements before the court of Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate today.

Public prosecutor also placed his statements in the case.

Inspector (investigation) Indranil Bhattacharya, also investigation officer of the case, produced them before the court with seven-day remand prayer for the accused.

The court granted five-day remand each for the accused, lawyer Debabrata Chowdhury said.

Another accused Rabiul Islam, also arrested in the case, was placed on a five-day remand by the same court around 3:30pm.

“The rape was a heinous crime and society was shocked immensely. The lawyers themselves took the decision to not stand by the accused, and did not submit any bail petition for them,” he said.

When contacted, Sylhet district Lawyers Association President ATM Foez Uddin said, “The lawyers took the decision personally.”

Earlier on Sunday morning, Saifur was arrested from Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj while Arjun was arrested from Madhabpur upazila in Habiganj.

Daily Star