Ex-girlfriend ‘forgives’ B’desh WC hero Rubel in rape case
11 March 2015 12:52 AM GMT
Naznin Akter Happy, 19, made the rape allegation earlier this year after claiming 25-year-old Rubel had reneged on a promise of marriage that he made while they were having an “intimate affair”.
The allegation had threatened to scupper Rubel’s chances of appearing in the World Cup after he was remanded in custody by a court in Dhaka. But he was later granted bail until the end of the World Cup in view of “national interest” as he was a key member of Bangladesh’s team.
In the latest twist of a saga which has gripped the conservative Muslim-majority country, Happy said she had decided to forgive her former boyfriend who starred in a dramatic victory over England yesterday. “I’ve forgiven him. I am not going to continue the case against him I am not going to give any testimony or evidence against (him). And if I don’t carry on with the case, then there is no case,” Happy told Channel 24 television on Tuesday. Her move came hours after her lawyer, Debul Dey, said he would no longer represent Happy as he did not want to put Rubel under pressure while he was representing his country in Australia and New Zealand.
Rubel took four for 53 in the win over England in Adelaide, which enabled Bangladesh to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Although victims of alleged rapes are usually entitled to anonymity, police waived reporting restrictions after Happy told the Bangladeshi media that she would drop the allegations if Rubel agreed to marry her. Rubel has consistently rejected the allegation of rape or claims that he had offered to marry Happy, instead accusing her of “blackmail”.
Happy became a household name for her debut movie Kichu Asha Bhalobasa which hit cinemas in 2013.
Lawyer declines to fight case
A lawyer, who was hired by a Bangladeshi film actress to fight a case against cricketer Rubel Hossain, said on Tuesday he would not stand for his client in view of the fast bowler’s stunning performance against England in the ongoing cricket World Cup. “From now, I’m no longer (actress) Happy’s lawyer. Congratulations Bangladesh Cricket Team!!!,” counsel Kumar Debul Dey announced in a Facebook post after Rubel overnight emerged as a national hero by taking a crucial wicket on the last moment helping Bangladesh to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time.
Dey added: “I want to inform Bangladesh cricket fans that I took Happy’s case as a professional. I no longer wish to fight against Rubel after seeing Bangladesh succeed. Rubel should feel no pressure.” 19-year-old Naznin Akter Happy, a BBA student who recently made her debut in films, had earlier filed a case alleging that Rubel reneged on a promise of marriage after having developed an “intimate relations” with her. Lawyer Kumar Debul Dey, however, made the announcement after a TV channel reported that Rubel’s match-winning heroics had prompted Happy to withdraw the case against him. “I’ve forgiven him (Rubel). I am not going to continue the case against him,” Happy told Channel 24 television.
The allegation had threatened to scupper Rubel’s chances of appearing in the World Cup after he was remanded in custody by a court in Dhaka. But he was later granted bail until the end of the World Cup in view of “national interest” as he was a key member of Bangladesh’s team.
In the latest twist of a saga which has gripped the conservative Muslim-majority country, Happy said she had decided to forgive her former boyfriend who starred in a dramatic victory over England yesterday. “I’ve forgiven him. I am not going to continue the case against him I am not going to give any testimony or evidence against (him). And if I don’t carry on with the case, then there is no case,” Happy told Channel 24 television on Tuesday. Her move came hours after her lawyer, Debul Dey, said he would no longer represent Happy as he did not want to put Rubel under pressure while he was representing his country in Australia and New Zealand.
Rubel took four for 53 in the win over England in Adelaide, which enabled Bangladesh to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Although victims of alleged rapes are usually entitled to anonymity, police waived reporting restrictions after Happy told the Bangladeshi media that she would drop the allegations if Rubel agreed to marry her. Rubel has consistently rejected the allegation of rape or claims that he had offered to marry Happy, instead accusing her of “blackmail”.
Happy became a household name for her debut movie Kichu Asha Bhalobasa which hit cinemas in 2013.
Lawyer declines to fight case
A lawyer, who was hired by a Bangladeshi film actress to fight a case against cricketer Rubel Hossain, said on Tuesday he would not stand for his client in view of the fast bowler’s stunning performance against England in the ongoing cricket World Cup. “From now, I’m no longer (actress) Happy’s lawyer. Congratulations Bangladesh Cricket Team!!!,” counsel Kumar Debul Dey announced in a Facebook post after Rubel overnight emerged as a national hero by taking a crucial wicket on the last moment helping Bangladesh to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time.
Dey added: “I want to inform Bangladesh cricket fans that I took Happy’s case as a professional. I no longer wish to fight against Rubel after seeing Bangladesh succeed. Rubel should feel no pressure.” 19-year-old Naznin Akter Happy, a BBA student who recently made her debut in films, had earlier filed a case alleging that Rubel reneged on a promise of marriage after having developed an “intimate relations” with her. Lawyer Kumar Debul Dey, however, made the announcement after a TV channel reported that Rubel’s match-winning heroics had prompted Happy to withdraw the case against him. “I’ve forgiven him (Rubel). I am not going to continue the case against him,” Happy told Channel 24 television.
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