Verdict Sunday in Ramisa Murder Case

Arguments have concluded in the high-profile case filed over the rape and murder of child Ramisa Akter in the capital's Pallabi area. Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal has scheduled this coming Sunday, June 7, to deliver the verdict.

The closing arguments began after the judge took his seat in the courtroom around 11:00 AM on Thursday (June 4). Following submissions from both the prosecution and defense lawyers, the court fixed the date for the judgment, bringing the judicial proceedings of this widely discussed case to its final stage.

Earlier in the day, around 9:00 AM, the prime accused, Sohel Rana, and his wife, Swapna Akter, were brought to the court from prison and kept in the lockup of the Dhaka Sessions Judge’s Court. Additional police personnel were deployed around the court premises ahead of the proceedings.

Yesterday, Wednesday (June 3), the recording of the defendants' self-defense statements and defense evidence was completed. During the hearing, the judge presented crucial testimonies from 16 witnesses, video evidence, and various forensic exhibits to the accused.

The evidence detailed the search for Ramisa, the identification of the suspect flat, the recovery of blood samples, and the retrieval of the child's body. The court also highlighted how Swapna Akter had allegedly assisted Sohel Rana in fleeing, as per the chargesheet.

In his self-defense statement, Sohel Rana pleaded, "I am innocent, Sir. Sir, please forgive me." At one point, he added, "Catch Dollar. I committed a crime. Catch him too." The other accused, Swapna Akter, maintained her innocence, telling the court, "I didn't do anything."

Following the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu stated that although Sohel Rana initially claimed innocence, he later confessed to his guilt and begged the court for mercy. The prosecution has filed a petition to have this officially recorded by the tribunal.

Regarding the mention of "Dollar," the prosecutor noted that no such name appeared in Sohel's confessional statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Furthermore, no such information was found during the investigation or in the case documents. The prosecutor suggested that introducing this name at the final stage might be an attempt to create public confusion or delay the judicial process.

Dhaka Metropolitan Court Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi stated that this trial would set an exemplary precedent. He expressed hope that based on the evidence, arguments, and legal procedures completed, the upcoming verdict would deter anyone from committing such a heinous crime in the future.

State-appointed defense counsel Advocate Musa Kalimullah explained that Wednesday’s proceedings involved the examination of the accused under Section 342 of the CrPC, which is a vital step in the criminal justice system. Following the completion of that stage, the court fixed the date for final arguments.

Previously, the recording of depositions in the case concluded on Tuesday. Out of 17 prosecution witnesses, 16 gave testimonies, including the deceased child's parents, elder sister, neighbors, and local eyewitnesses. Since the victim's elder sister is a child, her testimony was recorded via an in-camera trial. Various items seized during the investigation, including a severed window grille, were also presented in court.

On May 19, police recovered the body of Ramisa Akter, a second-grade student, from a residence in the Mirpur-11 area of Pallabi. The following day, her father, Abdul Hannan Mollah, filed a case as the plaintiff at Pallabi Police Station. The prime accused, Sohel Rana, was subsequently arrested in the Fatullah area of Narayanganj, and his wife, Swapna Akter, was also detained by police.

The chargesheet accuses Sohel Rana of rape and murder, while Swapna Akter is charged with abetting the crime. Following an investigation backed by DNA reports, autopsy findings, and forensic evidence, the police submitted the chargesheet to the court on May 24.