Asiya rape-murder case: High Court verdict today

The High Court will deliver its verdict on Tuesday (August 25) on the death reference and appeal in the widely discussed case of rape and murder of eight-year-old Asiya in Magura .

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice K M Rasheduzzaman Raja will pronounce the verdict on Tuesday . The bench fixed the date after concluding hearings on Monday (August 24) .

State-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan is representing the accused, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tareq is representing the state, assisted by Assistant Attorneys General Rohani Siddiqua and Mahbuba Tasnim Ankhi .

Earlier on August 11, the High Court began hearings on the death reference and the convict's appeal . The case was heard on a priority basis following the Chief Justice's formation of a special bench on June 10, 2026 .

Asiya was raped on the night of March 5, 2025, while visiting her sister's in-laws' house in Nijnanduali village of Magura Sadar upazila . The prime accused, Hitu Sheikh, 47, the girl's sister's father-in-law, was accused of raping her and attempting to kill her .

The child was initially taken to Magura General Hospital in critical condition and later transferred to hospitals in Faridpur and Dhaka. She was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka on March 8, where she died on March 13 .

The victim's mother filed a case against Hitu Sheikh and three others on March 8 . Police arrested all four accused and submitted the charge sheet on April 13 .

The trial began on April 23 with the framing of charges and was completed in just 13 working days . The Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, presided over by Judge M Zahid Hasan, sentenced Hitu Sheikh to death on May 17, 2025, and fined him Tk 100,000 .

The other three accused — Sajib Sheikh (19), husband of the victim's sister; his younger brother Ratul Sheikh (17); and their mother Zaheda Begum (40) — were acquitted .