DHAKA, Nov 11, 2021 (BSS) - A Dhaka court today pronounced the verdict in the case filed over the alleged rape of two university students at a birthday party in the Raintree Dhaka hotel in Banani in 2017, acquitting all the five accused.

   Judge Mosammat Kamrunnahar of Dhaka 7th Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression passed the acquittal order in presence of the accused in a packed courtroom, after 93 working days.

   The five accused are: Shafat Ahmed, son of Dildar Hossain Selim, owner of Apan Jewellers, his friends Shadman Sakif and Nayeem Ashraf alias Halim, driver Billal Hossain and bodyguard Rahmat Ali.

   Earlier, on October 27 was the pronouncement of judgment in the case but the judgment was not pronounced due to senior lawyer Baset Majumder's death.

   The case was lodged over alleged rape of two private university students in the Raintree Dhaka hotel in the capital's Banani area in 2017.

   The judge, in her verdict, said the prosecution has failed to prove the charges brought against the accused and they were acquitted.