Rape victim, rapist married at Rajshahi jail

The Rajshahi Central Jail authorities arranged the marriage of a rapist with the victim at the jail gate yesterday in line with a recent High Court order.

Prodip Khalko, 30, of Chaitanyapur village in Rajshahi's Godagari upazila is serving a life sentence in a case over the rape. He has been behind bars for the last eight years, Jail Superintendent Subrata Kumar Bala told The Daily Star.

The marriage was solemnised under Hindu rituals, he added.

The victim, her eight-year-old son and nearly a dozen members of both the bride and groom's families were present at the marriage ceremony.

According to the case statement, Prodip and the victim are cousins. They were in a relationship.

The victim became pregnant in 2011 when she was 14. Prodip then refused to marry her.

On October 25 that year, the victim filed the rape case with Godagari Police Station accusing Prodip.

On June 12 the following year, Rajshahi Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced him to life in prison.

Several months ago this year, the convict filed a petition with the High Court through a lawyer seeking bail. In the petition, he said he would marry the victim. His lawyer also submitted a document from the victim to the court stating that she would have no objection if Prodip was granted bail following their marriage.

On October 22, a HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman ordered for their marriage at the jail gate.

The court also ordered the jail authorities to send the marriage documents to it within 30 days after the marriage.