I only raped her, ‘Dollar’ did the killing

Jamaat Ameer calls on lawyers not to
represent the criminals

The trial in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter began on Monday, with the two accused appearing before the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal in Dhaka.

Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter were brought from prison and produced before Judge Masrur Salekin around 11:00 AM.

During the hearing, Sohel Rana made several statements, partially admitting his involvement while attempting to attribute responsibility for the child’s death to another individual.

He claimed that, although he had been involved in the rape, the fatal injury was caused by a person he referred to as “Dollar.”

According to him, an influential figure from the Mirpur-11 area was also involved and had been paid money.

Sohel Rana further alleged that DNA test results had been included in the official report without his test actually being conducted, and insisted that his wife Swapna Akter had no role in the crime.

He maintained that he was not solely responsible, claiming he had paid two lakh taka to another person connected to the incident.

The court scheduled witness testimony to begin next Tuesday. When the charges were read to the accused, Sohel Rana interjected, insisting, “My wife is not at fault.” Swapna Akter reportedly responded, “Say it — was I at fault?” The court, however, disregarded their remarks and continued reading the charges. Both accused subsequently pleaded not guilty.

Earlier in the morning, the accused had been transported to court in a prison van, kept in separate holding cells, and later presented before the judge.

The case stems from an investigation initiated on 24 May, when SI Ahiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station submitted a charge sheet naming Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter as the accused.

The charge sheet was accepted by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ashraful Haque and the case was transferred to the Dhaka Child Violence Suppression Tribunal. Judge Masrur Salekin took cognisance of the charge sheet and set 1 June for the charge framing hearing.

According to the case details, Ramisa Akter, an eight-year-old second-grade student at Popular Model High School, left her home around 9:30?AM on 19 May. Swapna Akter reportedly lured her into her flat.

When Ramisa’s family began searching for her around 10:30?AM, intending to send her to school, they found her shoes outside the accused’s room.

After repeated calls went unanswered, Ramisa’s parents and neighbours broke down the door and discovered her headless body on the bedroom floor, with her head placed inside a large bucket.

Swapna Akter was reportedly present at the scene. She allegedly told the family that her husband, Sohel Rana, had locked Ramisa in the bathroom, raped her forcibly, and then slit her throat.

As no defence lawyer was present for the accused, the Ministry of Law appointed Advocate Musa Kalimullah, a member of the Dhaka Bar, to represent them.

The Public Prosecutor is appearing on behalf of the state.

Meanwhile, opposition leader and Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman visited Ramisa’s father, who is grieving and receiving treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Jamaat Ameer called on lawyers not to represent the accused in Ramisa rape and murder case, urging swift justice and rejection of any form of leniency.

Shafiqur said the child was killed on May 19, the same day he left for Hajj.

He added that after receiving the news, he instructed party colleagues to stand by the victim’s family.