Convict Seeks Mercy in Ramisa Case

The principal convict sentenced to death in the widely discussed rape and murder case of schoolgirl Ramisa in Pallabi, Dhaka, has admitted his guilt in a jail appeal and pleaded for clemency before the High Court. Sohail Rana, who was sentenced to capital punishment by the trial court, argued that prolonged drug addiction, financial hardship and family instability contributed to his involvement in the crime. He has requested that the court consider mitigating circumstances, including the welfare of his family and his only child, when reviewing his sentence.

According to the appeal submitted through prison authorities and accepted for hearing on Sunday, Sohail stated that he worked as a mechanic at an auto-rickshaw garage and had been dependent on narcotics, including yaba, for an extended period. He claimed that his addiction frequently led to domestic disputes and emotional instability. In his statement, he maintained that he had no prior criminal record and asserted that he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the offence.

Sohail further expressed remorse and acknowledged responsibility for his actions. He told the court that there was no one else available to support his family and appealed for leniency. Whether the court will consider these arguments as grounds for reducing the sentence remains a matter for judicial determination during the appellate proceedings.

Meanwhile, his wife and co-convict, Swapna Akter, who also received a death sentence in the same case, has filed a separate jail appeal claiming complete innocence. She has sought acquittal, arguing that she had no involvement in the crime and was wrongly implicated during the investigation.

Both appeals were lodged with the High Court on 11 June through prison authorities. The court formally accepted them for hearing on 14 June, bringing the case into the appellate review stage. At this phase, the High Court will examine the evidence, legal procedures, findings of the trial court and the grounds raised by the convicted individuals before determining whether the convictions and sentences should be upheld, modified or overturned.

The case attracted nationwide attention because of both the nature of the crime and the speed with which the investigation and trial were conducted. Court records indicate that on 19 May, Ramisa, a second-grade pupil, went missing after leaving her home in a residential area of Pallabi. Investigators later alleged that she had been lured into a neighbour’s flat. Family members searching for the child reportedly became suspicious and entered the apartment, where they discovered her body.

Police subsequently detained Swapna from the scene and, using information technology-based investigative methods, arrested Sohail Rana from the Fatullah area of Narayanganj. Following the investigation, a charge sheet was submitted promptly, and the case was prioritised within the judicial system.

Key Timeline of the Case

Legal observers note that the comparatively swift progression from investigation to verdict made the case a subject of significant public discussion. With the appeals now before the High Court, both the convictions and the death sentences imposed on the two defendants will undergo judicial scrutiny. The outcome of the appellate process will determine the future course of the case and whether any changes are made to the trial court’s ruling.