A Dhaka tribunal has sent the full judgment along with the death reference to the High Court in the case over the rape and murder of second-grade student Ramisa Akter in Pallabi.
Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Repression Prevention Tribunal issued the order on Tuesday around 3:40 pm.
Court bench assistant Pankaj Peter Gomez confirmed the development, saying that the case records comprise a 69-page full judgment and a three-page death reference, totaling 72 pages, which have been forwarded to the High Court.
Earlier on 7 June, the tribunal delivered its verdict in the high-profile case, sentencing prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akhter to death. Both convicts were subsequently sent to condemned cells.
The tribunal also fined Sohel Rana Tk5 lakh and Swapna Akhter Tk2 lakh. The court ordered that if the fines are not paid, the amount will be recovered through the sale of their properties, which will then be handed over to the victim’s family.
The tribunal completed the trial and delivered its verdict within just four working days, marking one of the fastest disposals of a criminal case in the country’s judicial history.
According to case details, Ramisa Akter, a Class-II student of Popular Model High School, was raped and killed by her neighbour Sohel Rana at his flat in the Millat Camp area of Pallabi on 19 May.
Her father filed a murder case the following day.
On 23 May, the government appointed lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu as special public prosecutor to represent the state before the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, a newly established court dealing exclusively with cases of violence against children.
Police submitted the chargesheet on 24 May, accusing Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter of rape and murder, with Swapna named as an alleged accomplice.
The same day, lawyer Musa Kalimullah was appointed as state defence counsel to represent the accused.
The tribunal framed charges on 1 June. On 2 June, it completed recording witness testimonies in a single day, with 16 of the 18 listed prosecution witnesses deposing before the court and being cross-examined by the defence.
On 3 June, both accused made their self-defence statements before the court. Sohel Rana sought mercy, while Swapna Akter claimed innocence and prayed for justice.
Final arguments were heard on 4 June, when the prosecution pressed for the maximum punishment for both accused.
