HC Lists Appeals, Death References in Ramisa Murder Case

The appeals and death references of two convicts sentenced to death for the rape and brutal murder of seven-year-old Ramisa in Pallabi, Mirpur, have been placed on the High Court’s cause list.

The case is listed at serial No. 22 for Sunday, August 16, before a High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja.

Ramisa was raped and killed on May 19. Following the incident, prime accused Sohail Rana fled the scene after cutting through a window grille. Police later arrested him in Fatullah, Narayanganj.

His wife, Swapna Akhter, was taken into custody at the scene after police were alerted through the national emergency service 999.

Ramisa’s father subsequently filed a case with Pallabi Police Station. On May 21, Sohail Rana gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the case was sent to the tribunal for trial the same day.

On May 25, Pallabi Police Station Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman, the investigating officer, submitted a charge sheet against Sohail Rana and Swapna Akhter.

The formal trial began on June 1 with the framing of charges against the two accused. Testimony from all 16 prosecution witnesses was completed the following day.

The accused were examined under Section 342 of the CrPC on June 3.

On June 7, Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal Judge Masrur Salequeen delivered the verdict, sentencing both accused to death by hanging, subject to confirmation by the High Court under Section 374 of the CrPC.

Sohail Rana was also fined Tk 5 lakh and Swapna Akhter Tk 2 lakh, with the fines to be paid to Ramisa’s legal heirs.

The High Court will now hear the death references and appeals filed against the tribunal’s verdict.