Rape accused and complainant wed inside Keraniganj jail

A marriage has taken place inside the Keraniganj Central Jail in Dhaka between an accused in a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and the complainant. The wedding was registered on Tuesday evening, May 11, following religious rituals and in the presence of a kazi, with relatives from both sides and senior prison officials in attendance.

Jannat-ul Farhad, Assistant Inspector General (Development and Media) of the Prisons Directorate, confirmed that the accused, Tarikul Islam, 26, is in jail in connection with a rape case filed at Jatrabari Police Station. Following a plea from his lawyer, the court ordered the marriage to be conducted inside the jail and granted him bail on the condition that the marriage would be solemnised. However, Tarikul will remain in jail until the marriage documents are submitted to the court.

According to prison sources, Tarikul works at a shop, while the bride, 35, is an assistant at a dental chamber. Both were previously married and had separate families, but they became involved in a relationship. When the woman pressured Tarikul for marriage, he objected. After the relationship soured, she filed a rape case against him. A DNA test later confirmed the allegation. Eventually, both parties agreed to a compromise through marriage, and the lawyer informed the court. The judge then ordered the marriage and granted bail on the condition that the documents would be submitted.