Ramisa rape and murder: Closing arguments set for tomorrow
The court is expected to record their statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, allowing them to present their defence against the allegations.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children today (3 June) fixed tomorrow (4 June) for the presentation of closing arguments in the case over the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in Pallabi, Mirpur.
During the defence hearing, prime accused Sohel Rana claimed he was innocent and sought acquittal. Appearing before Judge Masrur Saleqin, he said, "Sir, I am innocent. I seek acquittal. Please forgive me."
The court later concluded the hearing and scheduled final arguments for tomorrow.
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The trial started at the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children, presided over by Judge Masrur Saleqin. Proceedings began at around 11:10am.
According to court officials, Sohel Rana was brought to the Dhaka court premises from Keraniganj Central Jail, while co-accused Swapna Akter was brought from Kashimpur Central Jail in the morning. They have been kept in the metropolitan court lock-up and are scheduled to be produced before the tribunal at 10am.
Following their appearance, the court is expected to record their statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, allowing them to present their defence against the allegations.
The judge then began reading out the recorded testimonies of 16 prosecution witnesses to the accused.
Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu appeared for the prosecution, while state-appointed defence counsel Musa Kalimullah and other lawyers represented the accused.
The information was confirmed by Pankaj Peter Gomes, bench assistant of the tribunal.
Yesterday, the court concluded recording the testimonies of 16 witnesses, including the complainant and the victim's father Abdul Hannan Molla, mother Parveen Akter, sister Raisa, as well as doctors, a magistrate and police officials.
On 1 June, the tribunal issued summons for 17 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant and the victim's father, Abdul Hannan Molla, to testify in the case.
The following day, the tribunal recorded testimonies from 16 witnesses, including Ramisa's parents, elder sister, relatives, neighbours, and the investigating officer, before declaring the witness examination stage concluded.
Earlier, on 24 May, the investigating officer in the case, SI Ahiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station, submitted a charge sheet against Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter.
The charge sheet was subsequently accepted by the court, and the case was transferred to the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children for trial.
On the same day, Judge Masrur Saleqin took cognisance of the charge sheet and fixed 1 June for the charge hearing.
According to the specific details compiled in the police chargesheet, the tragedy unfolded on the morning of 19 May when Ramisa Akter, a class-two student of Mirpur Popular Model School, left her family's flat.
The chargesheet states that the accused, Swapna Akter, who is the wife of prime accused Sohel Rana, 30, intercepted the child and deceptively lured her inside their neighbouring apartment.
Once the child was inside, the husband, Sohel Rana, confined Ramisa within their bathroom to lay the brutal sexual assault, raping the child before slitting her throat, according to the chargesheet.
The chargesheet further details that around 10:30am, after Ramisa went missing, her mother began searching for her child to send her to school and discovered a shoe of hers placed outside the suspects' door.
Receiving no response to their knocks, the parents and other building residents forced entry into the flat, discovering Ramisa's decapitated body on the bedroom floor and her head concealed inside a large bucket.
Swapna Akter was caught standing at the scene and immediately confessed to her parents and neighbours that her husband had committed the assault and murder inside the bathroom.
Following the discovery, the victim's father, Abdul Hannan Mollah, lodged a formal case with the Pallabi Police Station naming Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter.
Police arrested Swapna from the crime scene and subsequently tracked down and apprehended Sohel Rana from Fatullah in Narayanganj.
On 20 May, Sohel Rana gave a formal judicial confession acknowledging his direct role in the crime, while Swapna was sent to jail on the same day.
