Court sets Sunday for verdict in Ramisa case

The closing arguments have concluded in the high-profile case filed over the rape and murder of child Ramisa Akter in the capital's Pallabi. Following the hearing, Judge Masroor Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal fixed upcoming Sunday (June 7) to deliver the verdict.

The argument hearing began after the judge took his seat on the bench shortly after 11am on Thursday (June 4). After hearing statements from both the prosecution and defense lawyers, the court scheduled the date for the verdict, bringing the judicial proceedings of this sensational case to its final stage.

Earlier, the prime accused in the case, Sohel Rana, and his wife, Swapna Akhter, were brought to the court from prison around 9am. They were subsequently kept in the lockup of the Dhaka Sessions Judge Court. Additional police personnel were deployed around the court premises centering on the case.

The court had fixed today for the presentation of closing arguments after concluding the defendants' self-defense statements and defense testimonies.

During Wednesday's hearing, the judge presented crucial testimonies from 16 witnesses, video evidence, and various forensic exhibits before the accused. This included the search for Ramisa, the identification of the suspect flat, the recovery of blood samples, and the retrieval of the child's body. Additionally, the allegations detailed how Swapna Akhter had assisted Sohel Rana in fleeing.

In his self-defense statement, Sohel Rana said, "I am innocent, sir. Sir, please forgive me." At one point, he added, "Catch Dollar. I have committed a crime. Catch him too." The other accused, Swapna Akhter, claimed her innocence, telling the court, "I didn't do anything."

Following Wednesday's hearing, Special Public Prosecutor (PP) of the state, Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu, said, "Although he initially claimed innocence, Sohel Rana later confessed to his guilt and begged the court for forgiveness. The state has filed a petition to record this in the tribunal's documents."

Regarding "Dollar," he said, "There was no mention of any such name in Sohel’s confessional statement given under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. No such information was found in the investigation or case documents either. Mentioning such a name at the final stage could be an attempt to create public confusion or delay the trial process."

Public Prosecutor of the Dhaka Metropolitan Court, Omar Faruq Faruquee, remarked, "This will be an exemplary judicial process. Based on the evidence, arguments, and legal processes completed, we hope the forthcoming judgment will ensure that no one dares to commit such a crime in the future."

The state-appointed defense counsel, Advocate Musa Kalimullah, said, "Wednesday's proceeding was the examination of the accused under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This is a crucial step in the criminal justice system. After completing that stage, the court fixed the date for the argument hearing."

Earlier, the recording of witness testimonies concluded on Tuesday. Out of a total of 17 witnesses in the case, the depositions of 16 were completed. The deceased child's parents, elder sister, neighbors, and local eyewitnesses testified in court. Since she is a child witness, the testimony of Ramisa's elder sister was recorded through a camera trial. Various materials seized during the investigation, including a severed window grille, were also presented in court.

Police recovered the body of Ramisa Akter, a second-grade student, from a house in the Mirpur-11 area of Pallabi on May 19. The following day, her father, Abdul Hannan Mollah, filed a case as the plaintiff at Pallabi Police Station. Later, the prime accused, Sohel Rana, was arrested from the Fatullah area of Narayanganj. Police subsequently detained his wife, Swapna Akhter, as well.

In the case, Sohel Rana has been charged with rape and murder, while Swapna Akhter faces charges of abetting the crime. Following an investigation based on DNA reports, autopsy findings, and forensic evidence, the charge sheet was submitted to the court on May 24.