Courtroom moves to tears as witnesses recount details in Ramisa murder trial

An atmosphere of grief, shock and outrage engulfed a Dhaka courtroom today (2 June) as witnesses recounted details of the rape and murder of child Ramisa Akter in Pallabi, bringing many present to tears.

The emotional scenes unfolded during the recording of testimonies before the tribunal hearing the case. Witnesses described the circumstances surrounding the killing and the subsequent efforts to conceal the crime, prompting visible distress among court officials, lawyers and spectators.

Following the lunch recess, the tribunal resumed witness examination with testimony from Sub-Inspector Md Iqbal Hossain, the 11th prosecution witness. His account of the evidence recovered from the crime scene left the courtroom visibly shaken.

Iqbal told the court that he had prepared the inquest report and collected evidence following the incident. Among the items recovered were a georgette scarf allegedly used during the assault and other materials linked to the crime scene. He testified that the victim's body had been mutilated in an apparent attempt to conceal the murder.

As he described the evidence recovered during the investigation, the police officer became emotional and broke down in tears. The courtroom atmosphere grew heavier as several lawyers and others present struggled to hold back their emotions. The tribunal later allowed him to continue his testimony after a brief pause.

The court then heard testimony from Assistant Professor Dr Nasrat Jabin of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, who conducted the post-mortem examination.

She told the court that she received Ramisa's body on 20 May and found multiple injuries across the victim's body. According to her testimony, the body bore signs of severe violence, including injuries caused by a sharp weapon. 

During cross-examination, she said the autopsy took approximately one hour and was conducted solely by her.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid also testified, stating that the accused had provided a confessional statement before him under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. During cross-examination, the magistrate confirmed that the accused had been informed that such a confession could potentially result in a death sentence.

Returning to the witness stand later, SI Iqbal submitted a list of seized evidence to the court, including items recovered from the crime scene. During questioning by the defence, he said a knife measuring approximately 11 inches in length had been recovered from a bedroom, though he could not confirm whether it bore any identifying markings.

The court was also told that investigators contacted the case's investigating officer, ASI Ahiduzzaman, after learning of the murder in Pallabi. The accused was later arrested in Narayanganj, and two mobile phones were recovered during the arrest.

According to testimony presented before the court, the accused admitted during interrogation that Ramisa had been raped and killed. Investigators said the body was later mutilated in an attempt to conceal the crime before the suspects fled the scene.

In his testimony, investigating officer ASI Ahiduzzaman said he was assigned to the case after it was filed on 20 May. He interrogated the suspects in police custody and recovered two mobile phones from them. Investigators also collected CCTV footage from the surrounding area on the same day.

He further stated that the prime accused voluntarily agreed to provide a statement under Section 164 before later making a confessional statement before a magistrate.

The investigator told the court that DNA analysis suggested attempts had been made to destroy key evidence by washing it with water. He said the accused lived on the same floor as the victim's family and that the child was taken to a shared bathroom where the assault occurred. According to the investigation, the victim later died from injuries sustained during the attack, after which efforts were made to conceal the crime.

Ahiduzzaman also testified that while Ramisa's mother repeatedly called for her daughter and knocked on the suspects' door, the accused did not respond and continued attempting to dispose of evidence.

Following the hearing, Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqi of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court said the details of the case had left people across the country shocked.

"The entire nation has been stunned by what happened to this child," he said. "Witnesses repeatedly became emotional while recounting the events, and many people present in and outside the courtroom were moved to tears."

Faruqi said the court's commitment and the cooperation of witnesses had contributed positively to the proceedings. He expressed hope that the judicial process would conclude swiftly and that exemplary punishment would be ensured for those found guilty.

"People want justice and want to maintain confidence in the judicial system," he said. "Ensuring appropriate punishment for those responsible will help deter such heinous crimes in society."