BANGLADESH: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE, MURDER OF GIRLFRIEND

March 10, 2025:

Dhaka’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-5 on February 27, 2025 sentenced Maruf Hasan Badhon to death for the rape and murder of his girlfriend, Asma Akter, five years ago.
The verdict was issued by Judge Muhammad Shamsul Islam.
According to case documents, Badhon and Asma were in a relationship.
On August 18, 2019, they eloped from Panchagarh to Dhaka. Failing to find accommodation, they stayed at Kamalapur Railway Station. Later, Badhon took Asma to an abandoned compartment of Balaka Express train, where he raped her. When Asma screamed, he strangled her with a scarf and killed her. Badhon then returned to Panchagarh.
The next morning, railway authorities discovered Asma’s body while inspecting the train compartment. Police identified her using a birth certificate found in her bag and contacted her family. Her uncle, Raju Ahmed, later filed a case with Dhaka Railway Police Station.
On August 23, 2019, police arrested Badhon in Panchagarh.
After completing the investigation, they filed a charge sheet against him, leading to his trial. The court heard testimony from 14 witnesses before reaching the verdict.
Before the sentencing, Badhon was presented in court.
Following the judgment, he was sent back to prison under a warrant of execution.