Home
+
Published : 07 Jun 2026, 09:39 AM
Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter, the two suspects in the rape and murder of 8-year-old Ramisa Akter in Dhaka's Pallabi, have been brought to court for the verdict in the case.
Sub-Inspector Ripon Molla, officer in charge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court lock-up, said Swapna was brought to court from Kashimpur Jail around 8:25am on Sunday and Sohel from Keraniganj Central Jail around 8:45am.
He said, "The suspects have been kept in the Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court's lock-up. They will be taken to the courtroom before the verdict is announced."
Dhaka Metropolitan Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Masrur Salekin will announce the verdict in the sensational case around 11am on Sunday, said the court’s Bench Assistant Pankaj Peter Gomez.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up around the court premises ahead of the the verdict and additional police personnel have been deployed.
The victim's family is expecting the toughest punishment for the suspects in the case.
Abdul Hannan Molla, the father of the deceased, said: "We are expecting the maximum sentence of death for the accused. We hope that the court will give the maximum sentence."
Public prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu echoed Hannan’s sentiment while defence lawyer Musa Kalimuliah said, "I pray for justice for the suspects."
On May 19, police recovered Ramisa’s body from a flat in Pallabi.
Investigators said the child was killed that morning, after which the prime suspect Sohel Rana allegedly dismembered the body before fleeing.
Police apprehended Sohel’s wife Swapna from the flat, while he was detained from Narayanganj’s Fatullah the same evening.
He later confessed in court, according to police records.
Hannan filed a case with Pallabi Police on the day of the incident.
The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police, submitted the chargesheet against the suspects on May 24, after which the case was transferred to the tribunal for trial.
After Eid holidays, Judge Masrur Salekin ordered the case to proceed to trial after framing charges against Sohel and Swapna on Jun 1.
The next day, the witness deposition was completed. The court heard statements from 16 of 17 state witnesses, including Ramisa’s family members, neighbours, and police officers.
During the defence hearing on Jun 3, Swapna pleaded not guilty and sought justice.
Sohel apologised and told the judge, “Sir, I’m innocent. I want an acquittal. Please forgive me.”
After the defence hearing, the date for the presentation of arguments was set for Jun 4, when Public Prosecutor Dulu claimed that the charges against the suspects were substantiated and sought the maximum sentence.
State-appointed defence lawyer Musa Kalimuliah pleaded for a “lighter” sentence for his clients.
After the arguments on Thursday, the court set the date for the verdict on Sunday.
The brutal incident of rape and murder sparked outrage across the country. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the victim's family members and expressed his condolences. He assured that the trial would be completed quickly.
With the verdict on Sunday, the murder trial is set to be the quickest in Bangladesh’s history, coming within five working days from the start of witness testimony.
