Prime accused confesses to raping 8-year-old child in Magura
Court sources said the accused admitted to being solely involved in the incident
The prime accused in the case filed over the rape of an eight-year-old girl in Magura has given confessional statement before court today (15 March).
Senior Judicial Magistrate Sabyasachi Roy recorded the confessional statement of accused Hitu Sheikh, father-in-law of the victim's sister, Prothom Alo reports citing police and court sources.
"The prime accused in the case, currently on a seven-day remand, expressed willingness to give a confessional statement. Therefore, the investigating officer produced him in court at around 10:15am today. The judge recorded his statement and then he was sent to jail," said Magura Sadar Police Station OC Md Aiyub Ali.
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Court sources said the accused admitted to being solely involved in the incident.
However, the accused's specific details regarding the timing and circumstances of the crime could not be known immediately.
The eight-year-old girl who was raped in Magura a week ago passed away on Thursday (13 March), triggering widespread condemnation, outrage and calls for justice.
Following the news of her death, enraged locals set fire to the house of Hitu Sheikh, the main accused in the rape case, in Nijnanduali village, Magura Sadar upazila, yesterday evening.
Hitu Sheikh, the victim's sister's father-in-law, is accused of raping the child on 5 March, allegedly with the help of his son.
On 6 March, the child was taken to Magura's 250-bed hospital in an unconscious state. Later that day, she was transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
By March 7, she was placed on life support and moved to CMH on 8 March for advanced care.
A medical board comprising eight specialists, including surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and cardiologists, was formed to manage her treatment.
The child had suffered seven cardiac arrests since Wednesday and was in critical condition.
Despite receiving the best medical care and the dedicated efforts of specialists at CMH, her life could not be saved, the army stated.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said that the trial for the rape and subsequent death would begin within a week.
On 10 March midnight, a Magura court placed the main accused, Hitu Sheikh, on a seven-day remand and three others on a five-day remand each.
Earlier on 9 March, the High Court ordered the trial to be completed within six months and for the investigation to be concluded within 30 days.
