HC concludes appeal hearing in Asiya rape-murder case, verdict tomorrow
A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja fixed the date
The High Court has concluded the appeal hearing on the death reference and appeal in the much-discussed case over the rape and murder of eight-year-old Asiya in Magura last year, fixing tomorrow (25 August) for the verdict.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja fixed the date after concluding the hearing today (24 August).
The hearing on the death reference seeking confirmation of the death sentence awarded to the accused, Hitu Sheikh, and his appeal began on 11 August.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
As Hitu had no lawyer to represent him, the High Court appointed Hafizur Rahman Khan as a state-appointed lawyer. Deputy Attorney General Md Imam Hossain Tarek represented the state.
Hitu Sheikh, the father-in-law of Asiya's sister and the principal accused in the case, was sentenced to death by Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge M Zahid Hasan on 17 May 2025.
In the same verdict, three other accused – Asiya's sister's husband Sajib Sheikh, Sajib's brother Ratul Sheikh and their mother Zaheda Begum – were acquitted.
Following the tribunal's verdict, all case documents were sent to the High Court as a death reference to confirm the death sentence.
How the child died
According to case documents, Asiya was raped and sexually assaulted in early March 2025 while visiting her sister's in-laws' home in Nijnanduali village of Magura.
She was first taken to a hospital in Magura and later to a hospital in Faridpur in critical condition. As her condition deteriorated, she was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later to Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.
She died while undergoing treatment on 13 March 2025.
Following several brutal incidents of violence against women and children, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury formed a special High Court bench on 10 June 2026 to prioritise the disposal of death references and appeals arising from cases filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
