Magura grief turns to anger: Protesters block roads, demand death penalty for accused
Staff Reporter :
Outraged residents of Magura Sadar upazila have demanded that a madrasa for women be established on the land of the house belonging to the accused in the rape and death of an eight-year-old girl.
Their demand comes in the wake of widespread public anger, which resulted in the torching and demolition of the accused’s house on Thursday night, shortly after the victim was laid to rest.
A viral video circulating on social media shows locals cutting down trees on the accused’s property and removing valuables from the house.
Additionally, protestors blocked key intersections, including Bhayna on the Dhaka-Khulna highway, the Dhaka Road Bus Stand, and several roads within Magura district headquarters.
Demonstrators called for the capital punishment of the accused.
The prime accused, Hitu Sheikh, is a resident of Nijnanduali village in Magura Sadar upazila.
The young victim, who passed away at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka a week after the assault, was buried at her family home in Jaria village, Sreepur upazila, Magura, on Thursday.
Her body was transported by helicopter to Magura Stadium at approximately 5:15 PM before being taken to Magura Nomani Maidan for funeral prayers after Maghrib at 7:00 PM.
The assault took place on the night of 5 March when the child was visiting her sister’s in-laws in Nijnanduali village. She had gone to bed with her sister but was found missing in the middle of the night. Following a frantic search, she was discovered unconscious a short distance from the house.
Initially admitted to Magura General Hospital, the girl was later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as her condition worsened. She was subsequently moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and finally to CMH, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The case has triggered widespread protests across the country, with university students, including those from Dhaka University, staging demonstrations on their campuses, demanding the death penalty for the accused.
Meanwhile, police arrested four individuals in connection with the crime on 8 March. Those arrested include the victim’s brother-in-law Sojib Sheikh (20), his brother Ratul Sheikh (25), and their parents – her sister’s in-laws Hitu Sheikh (50) and Jabeda Begum (40).
On Monday at midnight, a Magura court placed the main accused on a seven-day remand, while the other three were remanded for five days each. In a significant legal development, the High Court (HC) on Sunday directed the lower court to complete the trial within six months. Additionally, the HC ordered investigators to conclude their probe within 30 days and submit a report accordingly.
As the case continues to unfold, public outrage and legal scrutiny over the handling of the crime intensify, with growing calls for swift justice.