Staff Reporter:

A large number of people blocked the Mirpur-10 roundabout after the Friday prayers, demanding swift trial and death penalty for the murder and rapist of Ramisa Akter.

The agitated people demanded death by hanging for the prime accused, Sohel Rana, within “24 hours,” saying the country’s traditional lengthy judicial process has been encouraging heinous crimes repeatedly.

On Thursday night, the residents of Mirpur staged a similar blockade demand swift justice over the rape and murder. They blocked the entire section from Mirpur-10 roundabout to Mirpur-12 bus stand, causing acute traffic gridlock for hours.

Later, around 9:45pm, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, accompanied by other senior Cabinet members, visited the residence of Ramisa at Block-B in Mirpur-11. The premier promised Ramisa’s parents that they would see swift justice in the case.

Earlier, on Tuesday morning, police recovered the dismembered body of the eight-year-old child from a flat next to her house. Later, police arrested the flat’s tenant Sohel Rana, 30, and his wife Swapna Akter, 26, on charges of killing and mutilating Ramisa.

It was presumed that Sohel first raped Ramisa, then strangled her to death as she vowed to inform her parent’s about the crime. Sohel, and Swapna dismembered the body to hide proof.

The couple has given confessional statements at the court acknowledging their crimes.