Abir Sentenced to Death for Ayat Murder

A court in Chattogram has sentenced a man to death over the abduction and murder of five-year-old Alina Islam Ayat, a case that has drawn widespread public attention due to its brutality and premeditated nature.

On Wednesday at around 1:00 pm, Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Muhammad Ali Akkas delivered the verdict, sentencing accused Md Abir to death by hanging. The court also imposed a fine of Tk 100,000, with an additional three months’ imprisonment in default of payment. Furthermore, Abir received a separate five-year prison term for concealing the victim’s body.

According to the public prosecutor, Jalal Uddin, the court directed that the fine amount be handed over to the victim’s family. Abir was present in the courtroom during the announcement and was immediately taken back into custody following the ruling. In its observations, the court described the crime as “premeditated, brutal, inhumane, and intended to create public terror”.

The incident dates back to 15 November 2022, when Ayat, daughter of Sohail Rana from the Bandar Tila area under EPZ Police Station in Chattogram city, went missing. A general diary was initially lodged with EPZ Police Station, after which the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) launched a shadow investigation at the request of the family.

Investigators later found that Abir, a tenant in the victim’s family residence, was involved in the abduction and murder. He was arrested on 25 November 2022 and subsequently confessed to his involvement in a judicial statement. Police findings suggested that the child was abducted for ransom, but when the plan failed, she was killed.

The investigation further revealed that the body was dismembered into six pieces, packed in sacks, and dumped near coastal and canal areas in an attempt to conceal the crime. Following the completion of the probe, the PBI submitted a charge sheet on 10 October 2023, implicating Abir and a 17-year-old associate. The juvenile suspect’s trial is ongoing in a separate children’s court.

Case Overview

Following the verdict, the victim’s father, Sohail Rana, expressed satisfaction, urging swift execution of the sentence to ensure justice is served and to deter similar crimes in future. Outside the courtroom, family members and supporters gathered, demanding the prompt enforcement of the ruling, holding placards and expressing relief at the court’s decision.