Charge Framing Hearing Today, Trial Likely to Begin

The hearing for framing charges against two accused in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Ramisa is scheduled for today (June 1) at the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Abuse Prevention Tribunal. If the court frames the charges, the formal trial will begin.

On May 24, Tribunal Judge Masrur Salekin fixed today's date after accepting the police charge sheet. Court sources confirmed that the tribunal will decide on the matter during today's session.

The investigation officer, Pallabi Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Ahiduzzaman Bhuiyan, submitted the charge sheet naming the primary accused, Sohel Rana, and his wife, Swapna Akhter. The Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court subsequently accepted the charges and transferred the case to the specialized tribunal.

According to the charge sheet—which relies on DNA reports, autopsy findings, and forensic evidence—Sohel Rana faces direct charges of rape and murder, while Swapna Akhter is accused of aiding and abetting the crime.

The victim, Ramisa, was a second-grade student. Police recovered her body on May 19 from a house in Pallabi's Mirpur-11 area. The following day, her father, Abdul Hannan Molla, filed the case at Pallabi Police Station. Law enforcement initially arrested Swapna Akhter, later apprehending Sohel Rana from Fatullah in Narayanganj. Investigation sources stated that Sohel Rana has since confessed to the crime in court.