Ramisa rape-murder: Sohel, wife sentenced to death

A Dhaka tribunal has pronounced the death penalty for the accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter in the widely discussed case over the rape and murder of child Ramisa Akter in Pallabi, Dhaka.

Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children delivered the verdict in the presence of the accused today (7 June).

Additionally, Sohel was fined Tk5 lakh and Swapna Tk2 lakh.

The prosecution has expressed satisfaction after a Dhaka court sentenced prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, to death in the rape and murder case of child Ramisa Akter in the capital's Pallabi area.

Reacting to the judgment, Special Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu said, "Ramisa's family has received justice. We are satisfied."

Security measures have been significantly strengthened in and around the court premises. Additional police personnel have been deployed, while surveillance has been increased across the tribunal area.

The accused were produced before the court this morning ahead of the verdict.

Prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Khatun, were brought into the courtroom at around 10:45am under tight police security.

The tribunal is scheduled to deliver its verdict at 11am today by Judge Masrur Saleqin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children in the presence of the accused.

At around 8:25am today, accused Swapna Khatun was brought from Kashimpur Central Jail to the premises of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court. She was subsequently placed in the court's holding cell.

At approximately 8:45am, the main accused, Sohel Rana, was brought to court from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj. He was also placed in the holding cell of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court.

According to court sources, both accused will remain in the court's holding facility until the verdict is announced. They will be brought before the tribunal shortly before the judgment is delivered.

The father of Ramisa Akter, the child who was raped and brutally murdered in Pallabi, Mirpur, has arrived at court to hear the verdict in the case.

The complainant and victim's father, Abdul Hannan Molla, arrived at the court premises at around 10:30am. Several members of the family were also present.

Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu and state-appointed defence counsel Musa Kalimullah, along with other lawyers involved in the case, were also present at the court ahead of the verdict.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the court premises in anticipation of the verdict. Additional police personnel have been deployed, and surveillance has been increased in and around the tribunal area.

Journalists from various media outlets began arriving at the court complex early in the morning. Considerable public interest has also been observed among lawyers, litigants and members of the public, with many gathering around different parts of the court premises awaiting the verdict.

Last Thursday, after hearing closing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the court set today as the date for delivering its judgment.

The prosecution has sought the maximum punishment—death—for both accused. The defence, however, has requested life imprisonment for the main accused, Sohel Rana, and a lesser sentence for Swapna Khatun.