Bangladesh Court Sentences Man to Death for Child Rape and Murder

A tribunal in Narail sentenced 35-year-old Robiul Shikder to death on Wednesday for the rape and murder of five-year-old Jannatul Mawa. Judge Sheikh Samidul Islam of the Narail Prevention of Violence Against Children Tribunal delivered the verdict at 12:30 p.m., also imposing a fine of 300,000 taka ($2,500 USD).

Additional Public Prosecutor Tarikuzzaman Litu confirmed the sentence.

Robiul, a mason and resident of Ramchandrapur village, was present in court during the verdict.

According to court records, Robiul lured Jannatul into his house in Ramchandrapur on July 20, where he assaulted and killed her. The victim's father filed a case with the Narail Sadar Police Station the next day, naming Robiul as the sole suspect. Local residents detained Robiul in the Dattapara area later that morning and handed him over to police.

The brutal attack sparked widespread public outrage, leading to demonstrations, human chains, and road blockades across Narail.

On July 22, police presented Robiul in court and requested a seven-day remand. Judicial Magistrate Maroof Hasan granted a two-day remand. Later that night, Robiul confessed to the crime in court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, after which the court ordered him held in custody.

Following an investigation, Inspector Ajay Kumar Kundu of Narail Sadar Police Station filed a formal charge sheet against Robiul on August 4. The court concluded witness testimony on August 11 before scheduling Wednesday’s verdict.

Police escorted Robiul to court around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday under heavy security. Relatives of the victim, local residents, and students gathered on the courthouse grounds ahead of the decision.

Family members and community members expressed satisfaction with the swift verdict and demanded its rapid execution.

Editor's Note: The extraneous reference to "LNG import decisions" present at the end of the original text was removed as an unrelated draft artifact.