Verdict in Ramisa rape and murder case on 7 June

A court has fixed 7 June for delivering the verdict in the case filed over the rape and murder of child Ramisa Akter in Pallabi, Dhaka. During closing arguments, prosecutors sought the death penalty for both accused— Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter.

After hearing the closing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children's Repression Prevention Tribunal set the date for the verdict today (4 June), confirmed Pankaj Peter Gomes, bench assistant of the tribunal.

In its submissions, the prosecution outlined how the accused were implicated in the crime, presented witness testimonies, and cited relevant legal provisions and evidence. Prosecutors argued that the witnesses had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt and urged the court to impose the maximum punishment prescribed by law.

State counsel Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu began the closing arguments on behalf of the prosecution, while defence counsel Advocate Musa Kalimullah presented arguments for the accused.

Special Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu told the court that Sohel Rana took Ramisa into a bathroom, raped her, and then slit her throat. He alleged that Sohel later escaped by cutting through a window grill and that his wife, Swapna Akter, assisted him in carrying out and concealing the crime.

The prosecutor said the testimonies and cross-examinations of 16 witnesses had established the guilt of both accused and warranted the death penalty.

Defence counsel Musa Kalimullah, who was appointed by the state, argued that the charge sheet was largely based on confessional statements and questioned aspects of the investigation. He noted that the knife allegedly used in the killing had not undergone forensic examination and said a conviction should not rely solely on such evidence.

The defence further argued that Sohel had been under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident and requested a sentence of life imprisonment instead of death. Regarding Swapna Akter, the lawyer contended that witness testimony did not directly link her to the murder and sought punishment, if any, under provisions related to concealing evidence rather than for the killing itself.

After the completion of the defence statement and rebuttal testimony yesterday (3 June), the court had set today for the closing arguments.

The accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna were produced before the court earlier in the morning for the hearing.

Sohel Rana was brought to the dock at 11:21am, followed by Swapna at 11:40am.

The proceedings formally began after the judge took the bench at around 11:45am.

The hearing was initially scheduled to begin at 11:30am but was postponed a little. Around 11:25am, a police officer from the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court lock-up informed the court that the accused Swapna had fallen ill.

Yesterday, during the hearing for the examination of the accused, prime accused Sohel Rana admitted his guilt and sought forgiveness.

The other accused, his wife Swapna Khatun, claimed innocence.

Earlier, on 24 May, the case's investigating officer, SI Ahiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station, submitted a chargesheet against Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter.

The chargesheet was later presented before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ashraful Haque, who took cognisance of it and transferred the case to the Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal for trial.

On the same day, Judge Masrur Salekin accepted the chargesheet and fixed 1 June for the hearing on charge framing.

Later yesterday (3 June), the prime accused in the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter, Sohel Rana, sought pardon from the court while claiming his innocence during a defence hearing.

Appearing before the Dhaka Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children, Sohel told Judge Masrur Saleqin, "Sir, I am innocent. I seek acquittal. Please forgive me."

Meanwhile, his wife and co-accused, Swapna Akter, also denied the charges, claiming she had done nothing wrong.