Naznin Akter Happy drops rape charges against Rubel Hossain

STAR cricketer and accused rapist was released on bail so he could play in the World Cup. Now he’s become a national hero, the actress who accused him says all is forgiven.

AN actress will drop rape charges against a Bangladeshi cricket player after his heroic effort in the team’s victory over England.

Naznin Akter Happy, 19, alleged earlier this year that 25-year-old Rubel Hossain raped her and that he also backed away from a promise to marry her.

The allegation rocked the Bangladesh team and threatened to ruin his chances of representing the country at the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

He was arrested and appeared in a Dhaka court, but was later granted bail until the end of the World Cup in the “national interest” because he was such an important part of the team.

Hossain 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.

Naznin Akter Happy, 19, had alleged a cricket star, Rubel Hossain, raped her. She’s now dropped the charges.

Of the rape charges, Naznin Akter Happy now says: “I have forgiven him.”

Now Happy has told media she planned to drop the charges and that the case was “over”.

“I’ve forgiven him. I am not going to continue the case against him,” she told a local television station.

“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.”

She made the comments soon after her lawyer, Debul Day, announced he would no longer represent Happy as he didn’t want to put Hossain under pressure while he was at the World Cup.

Rubel Hossain (right) took four for 53 in the victory over England, earning him national hero status.

Although victims of alleged rapes are usually entitled to name suppression, police waived reporting restrictions after Happy told the Bangladeshi media that she would drop the allegations if Hossain agreed to marry her.

He 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” (Some Hopes, Some Loves) which hit cinemas in 2013.