I want to see swift, effective justice: Ramisa's father

The trial of two accused in the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter got underway Tuesday (June 2) at the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal, with the victim's father, Abdul Hannan Molla, the first witness to take the stand and demand the harshest possible sentence.

"I do not want any other parents to have their hearts emptied like this. No family should have to break under the grief of losing a child, or be forced to stand in the corridors of a court seeking justice," he said before the court.

Abdul Hannan Molla, appearing before Judge Masrur Salekeen, called for the maximum punishment for the two accused — neighbour Sohel Rana, 32, and his wife Swapna Khatun — saying the verdict must serve as a deterrent.

He further urged the government and political parties to enact legislation that would mandate a verdict within one month of a suspect's confession, with immediate enforcement.

"I want to see swift and effective justice," he told the court. "The people of this country also expect prompt and effective trials. That is my expectation too."

On the morning of 19 May, Sohel Rana — a subletting tenant in a flat adjacent to the victim's in Pallabi's Section 11, Block B — allegedly slit Ramisa's throat, severed her head from her body, then cut through a grille and fled.

Police recovered the child's body that afternoon.

Ramisa's father filed the case with Pallabi Police Station the following day.

Sohel was arrested the same evening in Fatullah, Narayanganj. Swapna Khatun was detained at the flat. Sohel has since entered a confession before a magistrate.

Investigating Officer SI Ohiduzzaman submitted a charge sheet against the two accused on May 24. Two days later, on May 26, Metropolitan Magistrate Ashraful Haque transferred the case to the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal for trial.

On June 1, the tribunal formally framed charges against the accused and ordered the commencement of trial proceedings, issuing summons to 17 witnesses. Testimony in the case began on June 2.

Both accused were produced in court Tuesday morning — Sohel from Keraniganj Central Jail and Swapna from Kashimpur Prison — and held in the lock-up of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's court pending their appearance before the bench during the evidence session.

Among the 17 summoned witnesses are the magistrate who recorded Sohel Rana's confessional statement, the examining physician, the evidence-collection officer, and local residents from the building.