Swapna breaks down in tears after verdict, Sohel remains speechless

A Dhaka court has sentenced Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter to death after convicting them in a high-profile case involving the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in the capital’s Pallabi area.

Delivering the verdict on Sunday (7 June), Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal announced the capital punishment in the presence of the accused. The ruling triggered an emotional scene inside the courtroom, with Swapna Akter seen crying in the dock, while Sohel Rana stood silent and motionless.

According to prosecution accounts, Sohel Rana stood in the dock wearing a face mask and leaning against a wall after the verdict was delivered. His wife, Swapna Akter, was seen seated beside him and crying uncontrollably.

Outside the courtroom, contrasting scenes of reaction unfolded as members of the public and spectators broke into applause following the announcement of the death sentences.

The case relates to the recovery of the mutilated body of an eight-year-old girl from a residence in Pallabi on 19 May, an incident that sparked widespread outrage and shock across the area. Police arrested Sohel Rana from the Fatullah area shortly after the discovery, while his wife was also taken into custody.

The victim’s father, Abdul Hannan Molla, later filed a case with Pallabi Police Station, naming Sohel Rana as the prime accused and Swapna Akter along with several unidentified individuals.

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Investigators collected DNA evidence, forensic material, and post-mortem reports during the probe. A charge sheet was submitted to the court on 24 May, accusing Sohel Rana of murder and Swapna Akter of aiding and abetting the crime.

During the trial, the prosecution argued that the charges were proven beyond reasonable doubt through a complete “chain of evidence”, firmly linking the accused to the crime. Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulal said the forensic and testimonial evidence clearly established their involvement.

However, defence counsel Advocate Musa Kalimullah challenged the prosecution’s case, arguing that key evidence such as DNA reports and CCTV footage was missing. He claimed that these gaps created reasonable doubt and sought acquittal for the accused. In the alternative, he requested life imprisonment for Sohel Rana and a maximum seven-year sentence for Swapna Akter.

The court completed the entire judicial process—including investigation, charge framing, testimony, and arguments—within just 17 days, marking one of the fastest trial proceedings in a recent criminal case.