State to seek no adjournment in Ramisa rape-murder appeal hearing: Attorney general
The case could be included in the High Court's cause list as early as Sunday, says Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal.
Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal has said hearings on the death reference and appeals in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter will proceed without interruption before a special bench of the High Court.
"We will not seek any adjournment from the state's side during the hearing," he told journalists at the Attorney General's Office today (11 June).
The attorney general said Chief Justice Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury had formed a special bench to prioritise cases involving violence against women and children.
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He said he had informed the court of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty, the senior judge of the special bench, that the state would not request any delay in proceedings related to the Ramisa case.
Expressing hope for a swift hearing, he said the case could be included in the High Court's cause list as early as Sunday (14 June).
Speaking to journalists, the Attorney General said a special prosecution team has been formed under his leadership to represent the state in the High Court proceedings of the rape and murder case of child Ramisa.
The team includes Deputy Attorney General Barrister Osman Chowdhury, Deputy Attorney General Barrister Mehedi Hasan, Deputy Attorney General Jamiul Hoque Faisal, and Assistant Attorney General Dewan Humayun Kabir Ripon.
He said, "I will personally take part in the High Court hearing and arguments in the Ramisa murder case. In addition, all members of our team are preparing for the hearing of the rape and murder case involving Ramisa."
Earlier, on Tuesday (9 June), documents relating to the death reference, signed by Judge Masrur Saleqin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Prevention Tribunal, in the case reached the High Court following the conviction and death sentences handed down to Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter for the rape and murder of Ramisa in Pallabi, Dhaka.
Under Bangladeshi law, all death sentences in criminal cases require confirmation by the High Court through a process known as a death reference.
On 7 June, the tribunal sentenced Sohel and Swapna to death for the rape and murder of the child.
The court also fined Sohel Tk5 lakh and Swapna Tk2 lakh. The compensation is to be paid to Ramisa's legal heirs.
The court ordered that if the fines were not paid, the convicts' movable and immovable assets would be auctioned and the proceeds given to the victim's family.
In its observations, the court said evidence showed that Ramisa had been raped and sustained injuries to various parts of her body before being killed.
The court also noted that Sohel had not sought to withdraw his confession, indicating that he had admitted guilt voluntarily.
It further observed that Swapna had helped her husband evade arrest and had neither prevented nor opposed the commission of the crime.
