Man sentenced to 7 years for attempted sodomy inside mosque in Faridpur

A court in Faridpur has sentenced a 59-year-old man, identified as Hafez Maulana Ali Hossain, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to sodomize a child inside a mosque in Nagarkanda upazila.

Judge Shamima Pervin of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal (also District and Sessions Judge) delivered the verdict on Wednesday (May 13). In addition to the prison term, the convict was fined Tk 20,000, with an additional six months of imprisonment if he fails to pay. Following the announcement, the convict was sent to jail under police escort.

Public Prosecutor Golam Rabbani Ratan stated that the court found the accused guilty after reviewing case evidence, medical reports, and witness testimonies. He noted that the judiciary maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual violence and crimes against children, adding that this verdict will serve as a significant deterrent in society.

According to the case statement, the victim was a minor student at a local madrasa and used to visit Ali Hossain for religious education. On the morning of March 6, 2025, the accused reportedly lured the child from his shop into a nearby mosque.

Inside the mosque, Ali Hossain attempted to sodomize the child. When the boy started screaming, local residents rushed to the spot, caught the accused red-handed, and handed him over to the police.

Following the incident, the victim's father filed a case at Nagarkanda Police Station. After completing the investigation, police submitted a charge sheet to the court. The verdict was delivered after a lengthy legal process and the recording of various testimonies.