Dhaka Bar lawyers decline legal services for suspects in child Ramisa ‘rape, murder’ trial

They demand exemplary punishment for those involved

Members of the Dhaka Bar Association have decided to completely withhold legal services from the defence side in the case filed over the rape and murder of young Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi.

The association's General Secretary Mohammad Kalam Khan disclosed the decision on Friday following an executive committee meeting held via Zoom.

He confirmed that the leadership body unanimously resolved that no member of the bar association will participate on behalf of the suspects in the legal proceedings.

Dhaka Bar Association President Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan said, "Child Ramisa was raped and murdered, which is an extremely heinous and serious crime.

“We want exemplary punishment for those involved in these crimes in society. For these reasons, we have decided that no lawyer will participate on behalf of the defence."

Ramisa, a grade 2 student at Mirpur Popular Model School, was found decapitated and severely mutilated on Tuesday morning inside a flat in Pallabi.

Police have already arrested the prime suspect, a neighbouring tenant named Sohel Rana, along with his wife.

According to law enforcers, Rana has already confessed in court to raping and subsequently murdering the 7-year-old child.

Investigators said the 32-year-old man attacked the child inside the flat before cutting the window grill to escape, while his wife Swapna Akter remained inside the flat.

Police detained Swapna at the scene and later arrested Sohel in Narayanganj’s Fatullah that evening.

Ramisa's father Abdul Hannan Molla filed a case against the couple at the Pallabi Police Station on the same day.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said investigators will wrap up the inquiry swiftly and submit a formal chargesheet in the minimum possible time.