Verdict reading begins in Ramisa rape and murder case

A Dhaka court on Sunday began delivering its verdict in the high-profile case filed over the rape and throat-slitting murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in Pallabi, Mirpur.

Judge Masrur Saleqin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children is announcing the verdict.

Security was significantly tightened around the court premises ahead of the ruling. In addition to an increased police presence, members of several intelligence agencies in plain clothes were seen monitoring the area.

Earlier in the morning, co-accused Swapna Akter, the wife of the main suspect Sohel Rana, was brought to court at around 8:30am. Sohel was later transported from prison in a prison van and taken to the lock-up of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court.

Before the verdict proceedings began, Sohel was escorted into the courtroom under strict security measures, wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest.

On 4 June, the court fixed 7 June for the verdict after hearing closing arguments from both the prosecution and defence.

Formal charges against Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter were framed on 1 June, marking the start of the trial. Testimony began the following day, when the court heard evidence from 16 of the 18 listed witnesses. On 3 June, both accused maintained their innocence during their defence statements.

The case has reached its final stage in just 19 days since the brutal killing of Ramisa Akter, marking an unusually swift judicial process.

The case was filed at 12:05am on 20 May, following the incident late on 19 May. Within five days, on 24 May, the investigating officer Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station submitted the charge sheet to the court.

On the same day, Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Ashraful Haque accepted the charge sheet, declared the case ready for trial, and directed it to be sent to the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children. The tribunal later accepted the charge sheet under Judge Masrur Saleqin.

Although court proceedings coincided with the Eid-ul-Azha holiday period, special arrangements were made, including suspension of judicial leave, to ensure swift disposal of the case.