Final witnesses heard in Ramisa murder trial

The testimony of witnesses in the case surrounding the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in Pallabi, Dhaka, has been completed.

A total of 16 witnesses have provided statements, detailing the harrowing scene following the child’s death.

The testimony was recorded on Tuesday at the Dhaka Child Violence Suppression Tribunal under Judge Masrur Saleqin.

The court has scheduled the self-defence statement of the accused for today (3 June).

Ramisa’s father, Abdul Hannan Molla, who filed the case, was the first to testify.

He appealed for justice, urging the court to impose the maximum possible punishment on the accused, Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Khatun.

“May no other parent’s heart be left empty in this way,” he said, calling for strict retribution. Ramisa’s mother, Parvin Akter, and sister, Raisa Akter, also gave their testimonies at the outset.

During the proceedings, Police Sub-Inspector Iqbal Hossain broke down while giving evidence.

He was responsible for preparing the seizure list and inquest report and confirmed that an attempt had been made to sever Ramisa’s hand, though a small portion of skin remained attached.

Items recovered from the scene, including the knife used in the murder, the bucket in which her head was kept, and her clothes and shoes, were presented before the court.

Parvin Akter wept as she recounted the events of the day her daughter was killed.

She stated that Swapna Khatun had assisted her husband in escaping by cutting the window grill.

“When I entered the room, I saw my daughter’s head on one side and her body on the other. Seeing that, I lost consciousness,” she told the court.

Police have dismissed claims by the main accused, Sohel Rana, that another individual, named Dollar, was involved.

Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hasan Bashir said that multiple eyewitnesses saw Sohel Rana leaving the flat alone on the day of the crime.

After investigating, police found no evidence implicating anyone other than Sohel Rana and his wife.

The OC suggested that Sohel Rana may have tried to implicate another person to delay the judicial process, describing the allegations as “completely baseless and false.”

Abdul Hannan Molla, visibly emotional during his testimony, urged the authorities to ensure swift and fair justice.

He called for legislation under which a confession could result in the verdict being delivered and implemented within a month.

“I do not want any other parent to experience the emptiness we feel, any family to be shattered by the loss of a child, or anyone forced to stand in court corridors seeking justice,” he said.

Hannan described the events of the day of the murder in detail. He left home in the morning for his office in Kakoli.

Around 10:00-10:15 am, he received an urgent call from his wife asking him to return home. It took him 25-30 minutes to reach their flat, where he found a crowd gathered outside.

After failing to gain entry, he broke the lock with a hammer and entered, discovering traces of blood near the toilet. Hannan stated he had never seen the accused before the incident.

Court sources confirmed that 17 witnesses are expected to testify, including the magistrate who recorded Sohel Rana’s confessional statement, medical professionals, evidence officers, and local neighbours.

The court is gradually recording their statements as part of the ongoing process.

Sohel Rana was brought from Keraniganj Central Jail, and Swapna Khatun from Kashimpur Jail, and both were held in the tribunal’s holding cell during the proceedings.

The case was formally charged on 1 June, with summons issued for 17 witnesses.

During a previous outburst at the court, Sohel Rana alleged another individual, Dollar, was responsible for the crime, claiming financial inducements.

Police, however, found no supporting evidence.

According to police reports, Ramisa’s body was recovered on 19 May from a flat in Block B, Section 11, Pallabi.

Sohel Rana, a 32-year-old neighbour, is accused of murdering her by slitting her throat and then decapitating her.

Swapna Khatun allegedly remained in the flat during the escape.

Both were arrested the same day, and Hannan Molla lodged the case with Pallabi Police Station.

The charge sheet was submitted on 24 May, reviewed by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ashraful Haque, and the trial transferred to the Child Violence Suppression Tribunal.

Sohel Rana had given a confessional statement on 20 May, admitting he had consumed yaba prior to the incident.