Ramisa murder: HC to hear death reference, jail appeals of Sohel, Swapna tomorrow
The death reference and appeals have been placed before a High Court bench following the tribunal’s verdict sentencing the couple to death.
The High Court will hear tomorrow (16 August) the death reference and jail appeals of Sohel Rana and Swapna Khatun, who were sentenced to death for raping and murdering seven-year-old Ramisa in the capital's Pallabi area.
According to the Supreme Court's daily cause list, the matter has been placed at serial No 22 before the bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja.
On 7 June 2026, the tribunal handed down death sentences to the two convicts. The death reference was then sent to the High Court for confirmation, while Sohel and Swapna later filed jail appeals against the verdict.
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Ramisa, a second‑grade student of Popular Model High School, was found beheaded on 19 May in the home of neighbours Sohel and Swapna.
After the killing, Sohel Rana fled by cutting the iron bars of a room's window, while police took Swapna Khatun into custody after receiving a call through the national emergency service 999.
Her father filed a case the next day against the couple and an unidentified person.
Sohel was later arrested in front of Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj.
On 21 May, Sohel gave a confessional statement before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, after which both accused were sent to jail.
Pallabi Police Station Sub-Inspector Ahiduzzaman, also the investigating officer, submitted the charge sheet against Sohel and Swapna on 25 May. The case was transferred to the tribunal the same day.
The formal trial began on 1 June with the framing of charges. On 2 June, the prosecution produced 16 witnesses, completing the entire testimony in a single day. The accused were examined under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on 3 June.
On 7 June, just 19 days after the murder, Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Prevention Tribunal Judge Masrur Salekin sentenced both convicts to death.
The tribunal ordered that the two be hanged until death under Section 368 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, subject to confirmation by the High Court under Section 374.
The court also fined Sohel Tk5 lakh and Swapna Tk2 lakh, directing that the money be paid to Ramisa's legal heirs.
It further ordered the district collector's office to attach and auction the movable and immovable property of the defaulters if the fines remain unpaid.
