MC College gang-rape case: Lawyers refused to represent the accused

A Sylhet court on Monday placed the three accused in the MC College gang-rape case after police produced them before the court.

No lawyer appeared for the accused in court during the remand hearing.

Lawyers in Sylhet said they will not participate in the legal proceedings on behalf of such heinous criminals. The lawyers have decided to take a personal stand in refusing to fight on behalf of the accused, said the district lawyers' association president.

Saifur Rahman and Arjun Laskar, the main accused in the rape case, were produced in court on Monday afternoon. Later in the afternoon, another accused Rabiul Islam was brought to the court. Judge Saifur Rahman granted the five-day remand to the accused after the Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate produced them in the 2nd court and asked for a seven-day remand.

The accused defended themselves after no lawyer came forward to represent them. 

During the hearing, several lawyers representing the state said the court wanted to know if the accused had any statements as they did not have a lawyer speaking on their behalf. At this time, Saifur Rahman pleaded his innocence. He told the court that Rajan, Ain Uddin and Tareq had committed the heinous crime, denying his involvement.

ATM Fayez Uddin, president of the Sylhet District Bar Association, said the crime committed by the accused was disgusting. Such an incident has never occurred in the history of Sylhet.

He said that the alleged perpetrators have tarnished Sylhet's image. So, Sylhet's lawyers have decided to take a moral stand in their refusal to defend the accused.

"Lawyers can represent anyone they want. At the same time, they may choose not to fight for someone. This is entirely their personal choice, and the Bar Association has not taken any decision in this regard. Every individual has the right to legal counsel, and the Bar Association cannot impede that right," he said.

Following the remand hearing, APP Khokon Kumar Dutt said: "We wanted a seven-day remand for the three accused. The court granted a five-day remand."

He also confirmed that there was no lawyer who had agreed to represent the accused in court.

A young woman was gang-raped at MC College last Friday while she was out on a walk with her husband.

Chhatra League leaders and activists allagedly gang-raped the woman in the MC College dormitory at around 8:30 pm, while her husband was tied up by two men in front of the college. The accused in the case filed by the young woman's husband are: Tarekul Islam Tarek , 28, son of Rafiqul Islam of Umednagar in Sunamganj Sadar Upazila; Mahbubur Rahman Rony, 25, son of Jahangir Miah ff Bagunipara of Habiganj Sadar; Arjun Laskar, 25, son of Kanu Laskar of Atgram in Zakiganj; Rabiul Islam, 25, of Barangadipur (Jagdal) village of Dirai upazila and Mahfuzur Rahman Masum, 25, of Gachbari village of Kanaighat.