4 accused indicted in Magura child rape and murder case, testimonies scheduled for 27 April

Charges have been formally framed against four individuals in the rape and murder case of a 8-year-old in Magura. 

The hearing was held this morning (23 April) at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, presided over by Judge M Zahid Hasan.

The accused - Hitu Sheikh, Sajib Sheikh, Ratul Sheikh, and Zahida Begum were presented in court, where they pleaded not guilty. 

The court has scheduled 27 April for beginning recording of testimonies in the case.

Public Prosecutor Ehsanul Haq Samaji confirmed the charge framing and said, "The date for testimony has been set for 27 April. We aim to complete the testimonies swiftly in this high-profile case."

"The state is taking this case very seriously, and we are hopeful that the accused will receive the maximum penalty in the verdict," he added.

He also requested the court to frame charges under Section 9(2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 (amended 2003), and Sections 506 and 201 of the Penal Code.

Victim's mother, Ayesha Begum, said, "The court has framed the charges today following a hearing. The testimonies of three witnesses have been scheduled for 27 April."

The police had submitted the charge sheet on 13 April, naming Hitu Sheikh as the primary accused. Sajib Sheikh, Ratul Sheikh, and Zahida Begum were also named in the charge sheet. 

According to the charge sheet sequence, summons have been issued for the first three witnesses to testify on the next scheduled date. 

Public Prosecutor of the Magura tribunal, Monirul Islam Mukul, said, "After the hearing in Judge M Zahid Hasan's court, charges were framed against the accused."

Earlier, when the judge asked whether the accused wanted to appoint lawyers to represent them, they requested the court to allow legal representation. The judge explained the procedure and instructed them to apply to the Legal Aid Officer through the jail superintendent.

The public prosecutor further stated that although the prime accused, Hitu Sheikh, had given a confessional statement under Section 164 earlier, during the charge-framing hearing, he and the other accused claimed to be innocent.

Shahed Hasan Togor, convenor of the five-member lawyer panel appointed under the directive of BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman, said, "It had been decided that no lawyer from the Magura Bar would represent the accused in the rape and murder case. Even today, no lawyer has appeared on behalf of Hitu Sheikh and others. From the beginning, we, the five state-appointed lawyers, have been providing full support in this case and will continue to do so till the end."

The incident took place on 5 March in Nijnanduali village in Magura's Sadar upazila, when the victim was visiting her sister's house. She was raped and subsequently attempted to be murdered by her sister's father-in-law, Hitu Sheikh. 

The child passed away on 13 March while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. 

Her mother, Ayesha Akter, filed the case. 

Police deployed additional security at the court premises during the appearance of Hitu Sheikh and the other accused.