Accused Appear in Court to Defend Themselves in Child Ramisa Murder Case

Two accused were presented in court on Wednesday to give statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the case involving the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa in Pallabi, Mirpur.

Accused Sohel Rana and Swapna Khatun were brought from prison to the court in a prison van on the morning of June 3. They were later placed in court custody before the hearing.

The hearing is scheduled to take place before Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Prevention Tribunal. During the proceedings, the accused will respond to charges of rape, murder and assisting in the commission of the crime.

The testimony phase of the trial concluded on June 2. During the trial, the prosecution presented several pieces of evidence, including a cut window grill recovered during the investigation. The evidence was identified by witnesses and included in the case record.

The court recorded testimony from 16 of the 17 listed witnesses. Those who testified included Ramisa's father and complainant Abdul Hannan Molla, her mother Parveen Akhter, elder sister Raisa Akhter, relatives, neighbours, police officials, doctors, magistrates and the investigating officer.

According to the case details, Ramisa's body was recovered from a third-floor flat in Pallabi on May 19. Investigators said Sohel Rana allegedly fled by cutting through a toilet window grill. His wife, Swapna Khatun, was arrested at the scene, while Sohel Rana was later arrested in the Fatullah area the same day.

The trial has now entered its final stage. The court is expected to determine the next legal steps after hearing the statements of the accused.