Court directs to facilitate wedding of singer Noble with plaintiff woman

A Dhaka court has directed prison authorities to facilitate the wedding of singer Mainul Ahsan Noble with that woman who filed a rape case against him.

The court instructed that the marriage be solemnized with mutual consent and reported back upon completion.

The directive was issued on Wednesday (June 18) by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmun Akhter, following a petition filed by Noble’s lawyer.

The petition stated that Noble, who has been in custody since May 20, and the complainant wish to marry, claiming that the case arose from a misunderstanding.

Noble was arrested in the early hours of May 19 from his residence in Demra, Dhaka, in connection with a rape case filed by a former student of Eden Women’s College. According to the complaint, the victim met Noble through social media in 2018. On November 12, 2024, Noble allegedly lured her to his residence under the pretext of visiting his studio, where he and several unidentified accomplices reportedly confined and raped her, recording the assault on video.

The complainant stated she was threatened with the release of the video if she disclosed the incident. The case gained attention after a video clip circulated online, prompting her parents to identify her and contact authorities. Police later rescued her from Noble’s residence.

Although the court has approved their marriage, legal experts note that marriage does not nullify criminal liability, and the rape case may still proceed if the state decides to pursue prosecution.