Ramisa murder: HC accepts convicts’ jail appeals for hearing

The High Court on Sunday accepted for hearing the jail appeals filed by the two death-row convicts – Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter – in the case filed over the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter.

The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Ali and Justice Md Saifullah Islam passed the order.

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal argued for the state during the hearing.

On June 7, the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal sentenced Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter to death for the rape and murder of Ramisa Akter.

Besides, Sohel Rana was fined Tk 5 lakh and Swapna Akter Tk 2 lakh under Section 9(2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The court ordered that the fines be paid to the legal heirs of the victim.

On June 9, the death reference (approval of the death sentence) was sent to the High Court.

Following this, the convicts filed jail appeals through prison authorities on Thursday, seeking acquittal.

The judgement in the sensational case was delivered in just 19 days following the incident, which sparked widespread outrage and prompted the government to pledge quick justice.

On May 21, two days after the murder that took place on May 19, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the house of Ramisa Akter and consoled the family.

Earlier, on June 4, the tribunal completed arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.

Before that, on June 3, it heard self-defence statements from the two accused after the testimony phase in the case concluded within a single day on June 2.

Out of 18 witnesses, 16 made their depositions against Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter before the tribunal.

On June 1, the tribunal framed charges against the two accused in the case.

Before that, on May 24, investigation officer of the case – Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station – submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka. Later, the case was transferred to the tribunal.

Ramisa Akter was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, a tenant of a neighbouring flat on the 2nd floor of the building, on May 19.

According to the case details, Sohel Rana lured her into his room and later killed her after rape.

Ramisa’s decapitated body was found beneath the bed while her severed head was found inside a bucket in the bathroom.

While Swapna Akter was detained from the scene, Sohel Rana managed to escape by cutting through a window grille.

He was tracked down and arrested by police later in Fatullah of Narayanganj.