Sohel Rana, sentenced to death for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa in Dhaka's Pallabi, has confessed to the crime during a jail appeal hearing at the High Court.
On Sunday (June 14), Sohel pleaded for mercy, attributing his actions to severe drug addiction and financial hardship. He claimed the brutal act was "unintentional" and committed while heavily intoxicated.
"I was financially insolvent and worked as an auto-rickshaw mechanic," Sohel told the court. "I was heavily addicted to Yaba and alcohol, which caused constant family disputes. I had no prior criminal record. The incident happened while I was intoxicated and out of my senses. I apologize and ask for mercy, considering the future of my only son."
However, his wife and co-convict, Swapna Akhter, maintained her innocence and appealed for an acquittal. The High Court formally accepted the couple's jail appeals, filed through prison authorities on June 11, for hearing.
The Crime The murder took place on the morning of May 19. According to the case file, Ramisa, a second-grader at Popular Model High School, was called into the couple's flat by Swapna at around 9:30 am.
When Ramisa’s mother went looking for her at 10:30 am, she spotted her daughter's shoes outside Sohel’s door. Getting no response, Ramisa’s parents and neighbors broke the door down. They found the child's decapitated body inside. Police, alerted via the 999 emergency hotline, arrested Swapna at the scene. Using digital tracking, they later arrested Sohel in Narayanganj.
A Fast-Track Trial The case saw an exceptionally swift investigation and trial. Ramisa's father filed the case early on May 20. Investigating officer Sub-Inspector Ahiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station submitted the charge sheet just four days later, on May 24.
Charges against Sohel and Swapna were framed on June 1. In a single day on June 2, the court recorded testimonies from 16 of the 18 witnesses. Following defense arguments on June 3 and 4, the trial court delivered its verdict on June 7, sentencing both to death.
