This creates a record in the Bangladesh’s judicial history by providing verdict within such a short time

Staff Reporter:

A court in Dhaka on Sunday (June 7) sentenced Sohel Rana, main accused of the Pallabi’s much discussed eight-year-old girl Ramisa rape and murder case and his wife Swapna to death.

The court also fined Sohel Rana Tk500,000 and Swapna Akter Tk200,000.

This has created a record in the Bangladesh’s judicial history by providing verdict within such a short time.

Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Prevention of Violence Against Children Tribunal announced the verdict at 11:37am in presence of the accused. The court proceedings concluded at 11:41am following the announcement of the verdict.

The court ordered that the compensation be paid to Ramisa’s legal heirs. It further directed that if the fines are not paid, the Collectorate Office shall seize and sell the convicts’ movable and immovable properties with the proceeds to be handed over to Ramisa’s legal heirs.

Earlier in the morning, co-accused Swapna Akter, wife of the main accused Sohel Rana, was brought to court at around 8:30am. Sohel was later transported from prison in a prison van and taken to the lock-up of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court.

Before delivery of the verdict, Sohel was led into the courtroom wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest amid tight security.

Ahead of the ruling, security was significantly tightened around the court premises. In addition to an increased police presence, members of several intelligence agencies in plain clothes were seen monitoring the area.

On 4 June, the court fixed 7 June for the verdict after hearing closing arguments from both the prosecution and defence.

Formal charges against Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter were framed on 1 June, marking the start of the trial. Testimony began the following day, when the court heard evidence from 16 of the 18 listed witnesses. On 3 June, both accused maintained their innocence during their defence statements.

The case has reached its final stage in just 19 days since the brutal killing of Ramisa Akter, marking an unusually swift judicial process.

The case was filed at 12:05am on 20 May, following the incident late on 19 May. Within five days, on 24 May, the investigating officer Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station submitted the charge sheet to the court.

On the same day, Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Ashraful Haque accepted the charge sheet, declared the case ready for trial, and directed it to be sent to the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children. The tribunal later accepted the charge sheet under Judge Masrur Saleqin.

Although court proceedings coincided with the Eid-ul-Azha holiday period, special arrangements were made, including suspension of judicial leave, to ensure swift disposal of the case.