A court sentenced husband Belal Hossain (37) and wife Jasmine Khatun (27) to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of an unidentified woman in Natore, 13 years after the incident. At the same time, each of them has been ordered to pay a fine of one lakh rupees.
Judge Muhammad Abdur Rahim of the Women and Child Abuse Prevention Tribunal announced the verdict on Tuesday afternoon.
While the accused Belal Hossain was absconding, Jasmine Khatun was present in the court when the verdict was announced.
Convicted Belal Hossain is the son of Jabbar Ali of Ulupur area of Sadar upazila and Belal Hossain’s wife Jasmine Khatun is the daughter of Alauddin of Baliadanga village of the same upazila.
Special Public Prosecutor (Special PP) Advocate Anisur Rahman Khan of NATO Women and Child Torture Prevention Tribunal confirmed this information and said that on January 11, 2010, the body of an unidentified woman was found in Ambagan of Noor Mohammad in Baliadanga area of Sadar Upazila of NATO. After the body was recovered, Jasmine’s photo and passport were found in the evidence seized. The police arrested Jasmine Khatun suspiciously. Belal Hossain is absconding since the incident.
In this incident, Sub-Inspector of Nator Sadar Police Station Nuruzzaman filed a case with the police station mentioning the names of Jasmine and her husband Belal Hossain. After 13 long years of investigation and evidence in the case, the court judge sentenced husband Belal Hossain and his wife Jasmine Khatun to life imprisonment. At the same time, each of them was ordered to pay a fine of one lakh rupees. The judgment also asked to deposit the fine money in the state treasury.
