Death Penalty for Child Rapist and Murderer

A tribunal in Jhenaidah has sentenced Abu Taher, the sole accused in the rape and murder of four-year-old Tabassum, to death. Alongside the capital punishment, the court imposed a fine of 500,000 Taka on the convict. The verdict was announced on Monday, 22 June, by the Jhenaidah Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. Following special government directives, the entire judicial process concluded within four months of the incident, prompting the victim’s family to express deep satisfaction with both the government and the judiciary.

Background and Incident Details

According to court sources, Abu Taher worked as a sales representative for a commercial company. He resided in a rented house in Badedihi village, situated adjacent to the residence of the victim’s family. On the morning of 26 February, the convict lured the four-year-old child into his room in Badurgacha village under Kaliganj Upazila by offering to buy her crisps and juice. Once inside, he subjected the child to severe physical assault.

When the victim began to scream in pain, Abu Taher used his lungi (a traditional garment) to strangle her to death. Later that evening, he concealed the body inside a sack and hid it within the septic tank of the nearby Abdul Jabbar Secondary School in an attempt to obscure the crime.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

The perpetrator fled the area immediately after the murder. However, during a coordinated police operation conducted the same night, law enforcement officials apprehended him at a rented residence in Kushtia town. Following his arrest, Abu Taher confessed to his crimes to the police and subsequently recorded a formal confessional statement in court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The investigating officer of the case, Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Jellal Hossain, submitted the formal charge sheet to the court on 26 May. The tribunal expedited the judicial proceedings, hearing the testimonies of 16 prosecution witnesses. Closing arguments from both legal teams concluded on Sunday, leading directly to Monday’s final verdict.

Case Summary and Timeline