A tribunal in Dhaka has sentenced Sohail Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, to death for the brutal killing of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in the capital’s Pallabi area. The verdict was delivered on Sunday, 7 June, by Judge Masrur Salekeen of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Prevention Tribunal.
Reacting to the judgment, Ramisa’s father, Abdul Hannan Molla, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision but stressed that full justice would only be achieved when the sentence is carried out.
“Alhamdulillah, I am satisfied with the verdict. However, I will be one hundred per cent satisfied when the judgment is implemented,” he said.
He also thanked all those involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case and called for swift enforcement of the sentence. According to him, such crimes against children must be met with firm justice to deter future incidents.
In addition to the death penalty, the tribunal imposed financial penalties on the convicted couple. Sohail Rana was fined Tk 500,000, while Swapna Akter was fined Tk 200,000. The court directed that the compensation be paid to Ramisa’s family. If the convicts fail to pay, their movable and immovable assets are to be sold to recover the amount.
Case Timeline
Date
Development
19 May
Ramisa Akter went missing after leaving home in the morning
19 May
Her dismembered body was discovered inside the accused couple’s residence
20 May
Ramisa’s father filed a murder case at Pallabi Police Station
20 May
Sohail Rana gave a confessional statement before a Dhaka court
24 May
Police submitted the charge sheet against both accused
1 June
Formal charges were framed by the tribunal
4 June
Arguments concluded and verdict date fixed
7 June
Tribunal sentenced both accused to death
Details of the Incident
According to the prosecution, Ramisa was a second-grade pupil at Popular Model High School. On the morning of 19 May, at approximately 9:30 am, she left her home. Investigators alleged that Swapna Akter lured the child into the couple’s room.
When Ramisa failed to arrive at school, her mother began searching for her around 10:30 am. During the search, she noticed the child’s shoes outside the accused couple’s room. Receiving no response after repeated calls, Ramisa’s parents and other residents forced open the door.
Inside, they discovered the child’s dismembered body, prompting immediate alarm. Police were alerted through the national emergency service 999. Officers arrived at the scene and took Swapna Akter into custody. Sohail Rana later fled the area but was subsequently arrested near Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj with the assistance of information technology-based tracking.
Investigation and Trial
The investigation moved rapidly. On 20 May, Sohail Rana, aged 30, made a confessional statement before Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junayed. On the same day, the court ordered that Swapna Akter, aged 26, be sent to jail.
Following the completion of the investigation, Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station submitted a charge sheet on 24 May before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Ashraful Haque. The tribunal immediately took cognisance of the charges.
Formal charges were framed on 1 June, and the trial proceeded on an expedited basis. Of the 18 witnesses listed in the charge sheet, 16 testified before the tribunal. After hearing the evidence and final arguments, the court delivered its verdict, concluding one of the most widely discussed child murder cases in recent months.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to the age of the victim and the particularly gruesome nature of the crime, prompting renewed calls for stronger protections for children and swift judicial action in cases involving violence against minors.
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