Arguments begin against Sohel, Swapna

Legal arguments have officially commenced in the case involving the rape and murder of a child, Ramisa, in the capital’s Pallabi area, targeting the prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akhter.

Under heavy police escort, the accused couple was presented before Judge Masroor Salekin of the Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal at approximately 11:30 AM on Thursday (June 4). Formal arguments began shortly after, at 11:45am, as the judge took his seat.

Earlier in the morning, Sohel Rana and Swapna were brought from jail to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court’s lockup around 8:40am. Sohel was escorted to the Child Violence Suppression Tribunal at 11:21am, followed shortly by his wife.

Special Public Prosecutor (PP) Azizur Rahman Dulu is representing the state in the hearing, while state-appointed defense counsel Musa Kalimullah is appearing on behalf of the accused.

Previously, on June 1, the tribunal issued summons for 17 witnesses, including the plaintiff, Abdul Hannan Mollah. By yesterday, the court concluded recording the testimonies of 16 of those witnesses.

On May 24, the case's investigating officer, Sub-Inspector (SI) Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station, submitted a charge sheet to the court naming Sohel Rana and Swapna Akhter as the accused.

Upon accepting the charge sheet, the court ordered the case to be transferred to the Dhaka Children Violence Suppression Tribunal for trial. On the same day, Judge Masroor Salekin accepted the charges and scheduled June 1 for the formal indictment hearing, leading to the current trial proceedings.