Trial for Ramisa Rape and Murder Case Within 7 Days: Home Minister

The trial for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa in the capital’s Pallabi area will be completed within five to seven days, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced on Sunday.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday afternoon, the minister stated that the Home Ministry will take all necessary measures to ensure the maximum penalty for the culprits.

"The charge sheet will be submitted to the court today. We expect the trial to be completed in a special court within five to seven days," said the Home Minister. "If necessary, we will cancel the vacation of the special court to expedite the proceedings."

He highlighted that law enforcement arrested the primary suspect within seven hours of the incident. Fast-tracked investigative procedures allowed authorities to gather DNA, autopsy, and viscera reports overnight to finalize the charge sheet.

Meanwhile, the main accused, Sohel Rana, and his wife, Swapna Akhtar, were produced before a Dhaka court on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) handed over the DNA test report to the case's investigation officer. Investigative officials expect the DNA findings to serve as crucial, definitive evidence against the accused during the trial.

The body of eight-year-old Ramisa was recovered from a house in Pallabi last Tuesday, triggering widespread public outrage across Bangladesh. On May 20, police tracked down and arrested Sohel Rana in Narayanganj. He has since given a confessional statement in court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.