The defense hearing of the accused in the case filed over rape and murder of child Ramisa in Pallabi, Dhaka, has concluded. Following the hearing, the court set Thursday for arguments.
Judge Masrur Saleqin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal held the defense hearing in the presence of the accused.
Bench Assistant Pankaj Peter Gomez of the concerned court confirmed the information.
Accused Sohel Rana was brought to the tribunal from Keraniganj Central Jail, while his wife Swapna Akter was brought from Kashimpur jail. They were kept in a lock‑up at the court.
Sohel and Swapna were produced before the tribunal at 11:10am.
Later, the judge read out the testimonies of all the witnesses to the accused in the case. The court asked Rana if he had anything to say.
In reply, the accused said that he was innocent and urged the authorities to apprehend “Dollar”, who had been with him. He admitted that he had also committed crime and asked for forgiveness, mentioning that he had a young son and that his wife was completely innocent.
When Swapna was given the opportunity to defend herself, she said she had done nothing and was innocent.
State counsel Azizur Rahman Dulu applied for arguments to be scheduled on Thursday, which the tribunal granted.
On Monday, the tribunal issued summons for 17 witnesses, including complainant Abdul Hannan Mollah, to appear in court. The following day, the tribunal concluded recording of statements given by the 16 witnesses.
Earlier, on 24 May, investigation officer SI Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station submitted a charge sheet against Sohel and Swapna.
The charge sheet was presented before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ashraful Haque’s court and later the case was transferred to the tribunal for trial.
