Additional District and Sessions Judge Akbar Hossain Mridha filed a general diary (GD No 948) with Aditmari thana on July 27 after he was threatened with death and loss of job over telephone.

When contacted, he acknowledged the threat and said he apprehended assault by men of the complainant. He said he acquitted the accused as the rape case proved false after a long hearing.

The issue became a talk of the town as pro-ruling party lawyers led by the complainant's sister-in-law advocate Fazlul Haq boycotted the judge's court and observed a three-day token hunger strike from July 19 protesting the verdict, delivered on April 12.

In the verdict, the judge acquitted local Jubo League activist Dulal Hossain and seven others in a rape case filed by Shefali Khatun, daughter of Azizul Haq of Bhadai village in Aditmari upazila.

The rape case was filed one month after a dacoity was committed at the house of Azizul Haq on August 29, 2000.

The dacoity case is still on trial.