Meherpur Court Sentences Youth to Death for Child Rape in Milestone 29-Day Trial

A court on Sunday sentenced a youth to death for raping a nine-year-old child in Meherpur's Gangni upazila. The verdict, delivered within 29 working days, marks the fastest trial completion for a rape case in Bangladesh's legal history.

Judge Tajul Islam of the Meherpur Prevention of Violence Against Children Tribunal announced the sentence in the afternoon in the presence of the convict, Shakil Hossain, of Chandpur village.

According to the case files, on June 16, 2025, the child was carrying breakfast to her father in a local field. Shakil, who was cutting grass nearby, pulled the child into an isolated spot and raped her. The crying child reached her father and detailed the assault. She was hospitalized the same day, and her father filed a rape case at Gangni Police Station. Following the verdict, police transferred Shakil to the Meherpur District Jail.

Legal experts and rights activists view the swift verdict as a major milestone. Under Bangladeshi law, tribunals are directed to resolve such cases within 29 working days, though backlog challenges often delay outcomes.

"This is the first time in Meherpur court's history that a verdict has been delivered within the 29-working-day window," said Tuhin Aranya, Public Prosecutor of the tribunal. "This swift justice sets a highly positive precedent for victims seeking legal redress."