Special Tribunal Completes Recording Witness Testimonies

A special tribunal in the capital on Tuesday completed recording the depositions of prosecution witnesses (PWs) in the sensational case lodged over the brutal rape and murder of second-grade student Ramisa Akter in the city's Pallabi area. 

Sixteen out of the total 18 prosecution witnesses testified and were subsequently cross-examined by the defence at the Dhaka Metropolitan Children's Violence Suppression Tribunal. 

Following the completion of the witnesses' testimonies, the tribunal fixed June 3 for the submission of the defence statement under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, before Judge Masrur Salekin adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.

During the proceedings, Ramisa's father and complainant Abdul Hannan Mollah, mother Pervin Akter, sister Raisa Akter, aunt Mahmuda Akter, uncles Mizanur Rahman Liton and Moniruzzaman Shahin, neighbours Monir Hossain, Zakirul Islam Raju and Sheikh Abu Sama, constables Roma Akter and Sharif Miah, sub-inspector Iqbal Hossain (who prepared the inquest report), Dr Nasad Jabin (who prepared the autopsy report), Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Zunayed (who recorded the confessional statement of the alleged killer Sohel Rana), sub-inspector Rashedul Islam and investigation officer sub-inspector Wahiduzzaman appeared before the court and testified as prosecution witnesses. 

They were later cross-examined by the state-appointed defence counsel, Advocate Musa Kalimullah.

This rapid development comes immediately after the tribunal formally framed charges in the case on June 1. 

Ramisa, a Class-II student of Popular Model High School, was raped and subsequently beheaded by her neighbour Sohel Rana at his flat in the Millat Camp area of Pallabi on May 19, prompting her father to file the murder case the following day. 

Recognizing the gravity of the crime, the government on May 23 appointed Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu as the Special Public Prosecutor to conduct the trial on behalf of the state before the newly constituted Dhaka Metropolitan Children's Violence Suppression Tribunal, which deals exclusively with cases of violence against children.

The special appointment came shortly after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the maximum punishment for Ramisa's killer would be ensured within one month. 

Echoing this commitment, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman also stated that the government is fully committed to ensuring a speedy trial in the Ramisa murder case. 

Following a swift investigation, the police submitted a formal charge sheet on May 24 against the alleged rapist and killer Sohel Rana and his wife and alleged accomplice Swapna Akter.

Upon accepting the charge sheet, the tribunal on the same day fixed the timeline for the swift proceedings. 

To ensure a lawful trial, the government later that day appointed Advocate Musa Kalimullah as the state defence counsel to represent the accused before the tribunal. 

A gazette notification issued by the Solicitor Wing of the Law and Justice Division confirmed that the state defence counsel has been officially appointed to conduct Case No. 35 of Pallabi Police Station on behalf of the accused.