Staff Correspondent:

A Magura court on Wednesday framed charges against four accused in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Asiya.

Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Md. Zahid Hasan framed the charges in a crowded courtroom.

Prime accused Hitu Sheikh, was charged with rape and murder.

Co-accused Sajib Sheikh and his brother Ratul Sheikh were charged with aiding in the rape while Hitu’s wife was charged with concealing information about the murder. The court set April 27for witness testimonies. All accused were present in court during the hearing.

Advocate Shahed Hasan Togor, the plaintiff’s lawyer, said the accused were brought to the tribunal from Magura District Jail.

“We hope that after the charges are framed, the judgment will be delivered within 10 to 15 working days, allowing the people the country to see justice served,” Advocate Togor added.

Earlier, on April 13, the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Alauddin of Magura Sadar Police Station, submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court.

The four accused were named in the charges.

Asiya died at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on March 13 after being raped a week ago.

The rape and death of the girl sparked widespread protests across the country. University students, including that of Dhaka University, staged demonstrations demanding the death penalty of the accused.

Prime accused in the case gave confessional statement.

Police arrested victim’s brother-in-law Sojib Sheikh, 20, his brother Ratul Sheikh, 25, and her sister’s parents-in-law Hitu Sheikh, 50and Jabeda Begum, 40, — in connection with the incident.