Death Sentence for Accused Abir in Child Ayat Murder Case

A Chittagong court has sentenced Abir Ali to death for the brutal murder and dismemberment of child Alina Islam Ayat. The court also fined him Tk 1 lakh, with an additional year of rigorous imprisonment in default.

The Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Muhammad Ali Akkas, announced the verdict on Wednesday (June 17) in the presence of the accused. A total of 33 witnesses testified during the high-profile trial, which concluded its closing arguments last Saturday.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Mohammad Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury stated that the charges were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution's case relied heavily on Abir’s confessional statement, police and autopsy reports, recovered evidence, and witness testimonies.

In its observation, the court noted that the crime was a pre-planned, brutal, and ruthless act that created terror in the community. The court also mentioned the act was allegedly inspired by the television show "Crime Patrol."

Alina Islam Ayat, the daughter of Sohel Rana from the Bandartila area of Chittagong, went missing on November 15, 2022. Following a General Diary (GD) filed at the EPZ police station, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) launched a shadow investigation at the family's request.

The PBI discovered that the family's tenant, Abir, had kidnapped Ayat for ransom. When the ransom plan failed, he murdered the child, dismembered her body into six pieces, and dumped the remains into the sea and a nearby canal. Following his arrest on November 25, 2022, Abir confessed to the crime in court.

PBI Inspector Manoj Dey submitted the charge sheet on October 10, 2023, naming Abir and a 17-year-old accomplice. Because the accomplice is a juvenile, his case is being tried separately in a children's court.