Ramisa Murder Case Defence Hearing Set for Today

The defence hearing of the accused in the rape and murder case of child Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi area is scheduled to be held on Tuesday.

The hearing will take place before the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children, presided over by Judge Masrur Saleqin, in the presence of the accused.

Court officials said prime accused Sohel Rana was brought to the Dhaka court premises from Keraniganj Central Jail, while co-accused Swapna Akter was taken from Kashimpur Central Jail in the morning. Both were kept in the court lock-up ahead of their scheduled appearance.

During the hearing, the court is expected to record statements from the accused under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, allowing them to respond to the allegations brought against them.

Earlier, the tribunal summoned 17 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant and the victim’s father, Abdul Hannan Molla. Testimonies from 16 witnesses, including Ramisa’s parents, relatives, neighbours and the investigating officer, were recorded before the witness examination stage was concluded.

The investigation officer of the case submitted a charge sheet against Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter on 24 May. The court later accepted the charge sheet and transferred the case to the tribunal for trial.

The case was filed following the killing of Ramisa Akter, a second-grade student, whose body was recovered from a neighbouring apartment in Pallabi on 19 May. Police later arrested both accused, while Sohel Rana reportedly gave a judicial confession in connection with the incident.