Ramisa rape and murder: Testimony of 16 witnesses completed, defence arguments set for tomorrow

The testimonies of all 16 witnesses in the case over the rape and murder of Ramisa Akter in Dhaka's Pallabi have been completed, with the court now set to begin self-defence hearings and final arguments tomorrow (3 June).

The development came after the victim's parents testified in court today (2 June), during which the mother broke down in tears while giving her statement before the tribunal.

The testimonies were recorded before the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for Children Repression Prevention, presided over by Judge Masrur Saleqin, in the presence of the accused, Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter.

The victim's father and complainant in the case, Abdul Hannan Molla, became emotional while testifying and, after feeling unwell, was permitted by the court to give his testimony while seated.

He told the court that on the morning of 19 May, he left home at around 9:30am for work. After reaching his office in Banani Kakoli via Cantonment, he received a phone call from his wife, Parveen Akter, and immediately returned home.

Upon arrival, he found a huge crowd in front of the building. When he reached the third floor, his wife informed him that Ramisa was trapped inside a neighbouring flat belonging to the accused.

According to his testimony, residents failed to open the door and attempted to break it down. At one stage, Swapna Akter, the wife of the accused Sohel Rana, unlocked the main door from inside.

After entering the flat, he noticed blood near the bathroom, where Swapna was standing. He later discovered his daughter's severed head beneath a raised steel bed in a room used by the accused and lost consciousness. Police subsequently arrived and carried out the necessary procedures.

Hannan said he later filed the case with the police station.

During cross-examination by state defence counsel Musa Kalimullah, he was questioned about the timeline of events, the time it took him to return home from work and whether he had personally witnessed the entire incident.

In response, he told the court, "I have said only what I saw."

He also denied having any prior acquaintance or enmity with the accused. After completing his testimony, he left the courtroom in a distressed state with police assistance.

Ramisa's mother, Parveen Akter, later testified before the court.

She said she had been cooking on the morning of the incident and asked her elder daughter, Raisa, to take Ramisa to a relative's flat. While working in the kitchen, she heard the two sisters talking, but later assumed they had left when she no longer heard them.

Parveen told the court she later heard a scream, though it sounded distant. When her elder daughter returned after some time, and Ramisa could not be found, they began searching throughout the building.

She said they eventually went to the accused's flat on the third floor and repeatedly knocked on the door, but no one responded.

Parveen testified that she noticed Ramisa's shoes in front of the door and began shouting for help, drawing neighbours to the scene. She also called her husband.

Although neighbours could not see inside, a young man named Raju recorded video footage through an opening and allegedly captured images of Swapna Akter moving around inside the flat.

According to her testimony, after the door was broken open, blood was found in the bathroom.

Parveen told the court that she had repeatedly asked Swapna Akter to open the door, but she refused. Police later recovered the child's body from the flat.

Pointing towards Swapna Akter in the dock, she said, "I told her at the time, sister, open the door."

Referring to Sohel Rana, she added, "He committed the rape and murder."

In response to questions from the defence, Parveen alleged that Sohel Rana killed her daughter and that his wife assisted him. She also told the court that she had heard from local residents that Sohel Rana escaped by cutting through a window grille. 

Victim's sister testifies in camera court

The sister of Ramisa Akter testified before the court today (2 June), with the tribunal recording her statement through an in camera proceeding due to her age.

During the hearing at the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children, prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu sought permission for the testimony of Raisa Akter, the victim's sister, to be taken in camera.

He told the court, "Raisa is still a child. She is only 16 years old. She remains traumatised following her sister's murder and may feel uncomfortable giving testimony in front of so many people. Therefore, her testimony should be taken in a camera court."

The tribunal granted the application and recorded Raisa's testimony through the closed-door proceeding.

Following her testimony, defence counsel cross-examined her.

After the cross-examination concluded, the court began recording the testimony of the victim's aunt, Mahmuda Akter.

Of the 17 witnesses listed in the charge sheet, the tribunal recorded the testimonies of 10 today. Those who testified included the complainant and the victim's father, Abdul Hannan Molla; mother Parveen Akter, elder sister Raisa Akter, aunt Mahmuda Akter, uncle Mizanur Rahman Liton, fourth-floor resident Monir Hossain, neighbour Zakirul Islam Raju, second-floor resident Sheikh Abu Shama, uncle-in-law Moniruzzaman Shahin and Constable Roma Akter.

State-appointed defence counsel Musa Kalimullah cross-examined the witnesses following their testimonies.

Bench Assistant Pankaj Peter Gomes of the tribunal confirmed the development, saying all witnesses were present before the court and that the remaining testimonies could also be recorded on the same day if time permitted.

Following the day's proceedings, the tribunal adjourned the hearing until 1:30pm, after which the recording of further witness statements was scheduled to continue.