High Court verdict in child Ayesha murder case today

The High Court is set to deliver its verdict on Tuesday (25 August) on the death reference and appeal in the widely discussed rape and murder case involving eight-year-old Ayesha in Magura, with the court’s decision expected to determine the fate of the death sentence awarded to the prime accused, Hitu Sheikh.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja fixed the date for the verdict on Monday (24 August) after concluding the hearing.

Hafizur Rahman Khan is representing the accused as a state-appointed lawyer, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek represented the state.

According to the case documents and court sources, the eight-year-old girl was raped on the night of 5 March last year while visiting her sister’s house in Nijnanduali area of Magura town. Her sister’s father-in-law, Hitu Sheikh, was accused of raping her and subsequently attempting to kill her.

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The child was later admitted to hospital in critical condition. She died while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. 

Her mother subsequently filed a case against Hitu Sheikh and three others. Police later arrested all four accused.

Police submitted the charge sheet on 13 April 2025, and the trial began with the framing of charges on 23 April. Recording of witness statements began on 27 April, with 29 prosecution witnesses testifying in the case.

The recording of evidence concluded on 7 May, bringing the trial proceedings to an end in just 13 working days. Arguments were concluded on 13 May before Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. The tribunal delivered its verdict on 17 May.

The tribunal sentenced Hitu Sheikh, 47, to death for the rape and murder of the child and fined him Tk100,000.

The other three accused were acquitted. They are Sajeeb Sheikh, 19, the husband of the victim’s sister; Sajeeb’s younger brother, 17; and Sajeeb’s mother, Zaheda Begum, 40.

Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, when a trial court imposes a death sentence, the case records must be sent to the High Court for confirmation. Accordingly, the records of the case were sent to the High Court on 21 May last year. After scrutiny, they were sent to the Bangladesh Government Press for preparation of the paper book.

The paper book was completed and sent to the High Court on 8 June. The case was subsequently placed on the cause list of the relevant specialised bench for hearing.

All eyes are now on whether the High Court will uphold or alter Hitu Sheikh’s death sentence in today’s verdict.