May No Other Parent Lose Child this Way: Ramisa’s Father Demands Highest Penalty

The father of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter, who was brutally raped and murdered in the capital’s Pallabi area, on Tuesday demanded the highest punishment for the accused, stating that no other parent should ever have to endure such a horrific tragedy. 

Speaking to reporters before testifying at the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Prevention Tribunal, Abdul Hannan Molla expressed his deep grief and expectations for accountability. 

“I expect justice for the brutal rape and murder of my innocent child. I want a fair trial and speedy execution of the verdict. May no other parent lose a child this way. May no family suffer such heartbreak,” he said.

The recording of testimonies in the sensational case officially began on Tuesday under Judge Masrur Salekin of the tribunal, who is scheduled to record the statements of key witnesses throughout the day. 

In addition to Ramisa’s father, the witnesses summoned to testify include the magistrate who recorded the formal confessional statement of the prime accused, the medical doctors who examined the victim, officials involved in collecting forensic evidence, and local residents. 

Earlier in the morning, the prime accused, Sohel Rana, was brought to the court premises from Keraniganj Central Jail while his wife, Swapna Khatun, was produced from Kashimpur Jail. 

Both were kept at the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court lockup before being presented before the tribunal for the hearing.

This development follows the tribunal's decision on Monday to formally frame charges against Sohel Rana and Swapna Khatun, ordering the immediate commencement of the trial and issuing summons for 17 witnesses to testify. 

However, Hannan Mollah has been admitted to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) after complaining of sudden chest pain following a persistent fever. 

The institute's Director, Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, confirmed Hannan’s admission on Monday, noting that the grieving father had been suffering from a fever for five days before arriving at the hospital when the chest pain abruptly began.

Providing an update on his medical condition, the NICVD director explained, "I think he had a viral fever, which is why he was feeling pain in the heart cover [rib cage]." Director Wadud further reassured the public that Hannan does not have any major physical complications, adding, "[Hannan] is completely fine. He’s so fine that he wants to go home now. But we want to keep him under observation for two-three more days."

Earlier, the tragic incident occurred on May 19, when Ramisa Akter was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, a tenant living in a neighbouring flat. 

Following a swift investigation, Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station, serving as the investigating officer, submitted the formal charge sheet against Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka on May 24.

According to the details outlined in the case, the accused, Sohel Rana, lured the young girl into his room and subsequently killed her after committing the rape. 

Law enforcement officials later discovered Ramisa’s decapitated body beneath the bed, while her severed head was found hidden inside a bucket in the bathroom. 

While Swapna Khatun was detained by authorities directly from the scene of the crime, Sohel Rana initially managed to escape the apartment by cutting through a window grille. 

However, police successfully tracked his movements and arrested him shortly after in the Fatullah area of Narayanganj.