Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal has said the trial of the Ramisa rape and murder case will continue without interruption in a specially formed High Court bench.
He made the announcement on Thursday during a press briefing at his office. He confirmed that Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja will constitute the special bench.
Attorney General said the Supreme Court administration has taken a major initiative to speed up disposal of cases under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The trial proceedings will begin from Sunday, 14 June.
According to him, the special bench will prioritise death references and related appeals in cases under the law.
Ruhul Quddus Kazal also said he himself will conduct the death reference hearing of the widely discussed Ramisah case.
He added that, considering the sensitivity of the Ramisa rape and murder case, a special panel of state lawyers has been formed to handle it. He expressed hope that the case will be listed in the High Court’s cause list on Sunday.
On 9 June, the death reference documents of the case reached the High Court after approval. The documents followed the death sentence of convicts Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter by the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal judge Masrur Salekin.
On 10 June, the Chief Justice formed the special bench to hear death references and appeals under women and children repression cases.
On 7 June, the tribunal sentenced Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter to death for the rape and murder of child Ramisa in Pallabi, Dhaka. Judge Masrur Saleqin announced the verdict in the presence of the accused.
The court also fined Sohel Tk5 lakh and Swapna Tk2 lakh. It ordered that compensation be given to Ramisa’s legal heirs. If unpaid, the court directed that the accused’s movable and immovable assets be sold and the proceeds handed to the victim’s legal heirs.
The Attorney General said the new arrangement will ensure faster and uninterrupted disposal of sensitive women and children repression cases nationwide.
