The High Court has placed the murder and rape case of eight-year-old child Asiya from Magura and the murder case of madrasa student Nusrat from Feni on the list of a specialised bench as part of an initiative to expedite hearings in women and child abuse cases.
The two cases have been included in the High Court’s cause list for Sunday of the bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja.
On 1 June, a Times of Bangladesh report titled ‘Swift Verdicts Snag in HC Logjam’ highlighted that while lower courts deliver speedy verdicts in many high-profile cases, implementation often gets stuck due to prolonged delays in the higher court. Legal experts subsequently emphasised the need for separate or special benches for serious crimes such as child rape and murder.
On 10 June, the Chief Justice formed this bench to hear death references and appeals in women and child cases on a priority basis.
The Asiya case
While visiting her aunt’s home in Nijnanduali area of Magura Sadar on March 5 last year, eight-year-old Ashiya was raped and subjected to attempted murder by Hitu Sheikh, her aunt’s father-in-law. The victim’s mother filed a case on March 8 naming Hitu Sheikh and four others. Ashiya later died at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.
The trial concluded in just 13 working days. On May 17, the Magura Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal sentenced Hitu to death with a fine of Tk 1 lakh and acquitted the other three accused. On May 21, all case documents were sent to the High Court as a death reference.
On 25 June last year, Hitu Sheikh filed an appeal in the High Court against the trial court’s verdict. The High Court accepted the appeal for hearing on 1 July.
The Nusrat case
In Feni’s Sonagazi, madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi was set on fire on 6 April 2019, for refusing to withdraw allegations of sexual harassment against Islamia Fazil Madrasa principal Siraj-ud-Daula. She died on 10 April while undergoing treatment.
On 24 October 2019, the Feni Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal sentenced 16 people, including the principal, to death. On October 29, 2019, all case documents reached the High Court for confirmation of the death sentences.
