HC publishes full verdict in Asiya rape, murder case

HC publishes full verdict in Asiya rape, murder case

The High Court has published the full text of its judgment upholding the death sentence of the lone convict, Hitu Sheikh, in the case filed over the sensational rape and murder of eight-year-old Asiya in Magura.

The Supreme Court administration released the 37-page judgment on Monday, September 14, and later uploaded it on its website.

Earlier, on August 31, the High Court bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict after hearing the death reference and jail appeals in the case.

State-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan appeared for the accused, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek argued for the state.

The tragic incident occurred on March 6, 2025, when Asiya was visiting her elder sister's in-laws' house in the Nijnanduali area of Magura Sadar. She was raped and later strangled. She was initially taken to Magura Sadar Hospital in critical condition and subsequently transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, where she died on March 13 while undergoing treatment.

Following the incident, the victim's mother filed a case against Hitu Sheikh and three others at Magura Sadar Police Station on March 8 under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

On May 17, 2025, the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced Hitu Sheikh, the father-in-law of Asiya's elder sister, to death and fined him Tk 1 lakh. The tribunal acquitted the three other accused—Asiya's brother-in-law Sajib Sheikh, his brother Ratul Sheikh and their mother Jaheda Begum.

Under the Criminal Procedure Code, a death sentence handed down by a trial court requires confirmation by the High Court. The case documents were sent to the High Court on May 21, 2025. After preparation, the paper book reached the High Court on June 8, 2026.