Verdict in Ramisa rape-murder case set for June 7

A Dhaka tribunal on Thursday fixed June 7 for delivering its verdict in the sensational rape and murder case of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter, whose death in the capital's Pallabi area sparked widespread outrage and demands for swift justice.

Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children's Violence Suppression Tribunal set the date after concluding arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.

During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu argued that the prosecution had successfully established the guilt of the accused through witness testimonies, forensic evidence, seized materials and other documentary evidence presented before the court.

He told the tribunal that the evidence had proven the charges against the two accused, Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Khatun, beyond reasonable doubt and sought the death penalty for both.

Defence counsel Musa Kalimullah, however, urged the court to ensure justice for the accused, contending that the prosecution had failed to prove the allegations conclusively. Lawyers representing Ramisa's family also placed their arguments before the tribunal, seeking exemplary punishment for those responsible for the child's death.

Earlier, the court recorded statements from the accused under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code. During her self-defence statement, Swapna Khatun claimed that she was innocent and had been falsely implicated in the case. Sohel Rana, despite having previously made a confessional statement before a magistrate, pleaded not guilty and sought acquittal.

The case drew significant public attention after Ramisa's body was recovered from a flat in Pallabi on May 19. According to investigators, the child had gone missing before being found dead inside the apartment.

Police alleged that neighbour Sohel Rana raped and murdered Ramisa and later fled the scene. Investigators further claimed that his wife, Swapna Khatun, was present in the apartment at the time of the incident and was subsequently implicated in the case.

Law enforcement agencies later arrested both suspects and submitted charge sheets against them following an investigation. The trial proceeded under the Children Repression Prevention framework, with the prosecution presenting multiple witnesses and forensic evidence in support of its case.

The verdict, scheduled for June 7, is expected to bring a significant development in a case that has deeply shocked the nation and renewed calls for stronger protection of children against sexual violence and abuse.