Sitakunda child murder: Accused Babu Sheikh confesses to brutal killing

The accused in the murder of eight-year-old child Ira, who was killed by having her throat slit in Sitakunda, Chattogram, has given a confessional statement in court admitting to the crime.

Babu Sheikh submitted the statement before Chattogram Senior Judicial Magistrate Sayma Afrin around noon on Wednesday, March 4. Sitakunda Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mohinul Islam confirmed the matter.

He said Babu Sheikh has given a confessional statement in court admitting to the crime. He provided full details of the incident. Babu Sheikh is the sole accused in this case. Trial proceedings will now begin. After today's hearing, the court sent him to jail.

Meanwhile, around 11:30 am, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Helal visited the victim's home to console her parents.

The state minister said, "What happened is not just tragic, but demonic. The honourable prime minister is deeply pained by this incident. She sent me to express solidarity with the family members. The prime minister has instructed that whatever is necessary to ensure proper justice for the brutal murder of this child will be done by the government. This is not related to the financial condition of the victim's family. It is the government's responsibility to ensure such criminals are punished."

Additional District Public Prosecutor Advocate Sarwar Hossain Lablu said around 11:30 am on Sunday, their neighbour Babu Sheikh, 50, attempted to rape the child in the hills adjacent to Chandranath Hill. When the child screamed, the rape attempt failed, and he tried to kill her by slitting her throat with a knife. Believing the child was dead, Babu Sheikh threw her into a ditch in the hill. The child, with her throat slit, crawled up the hill slope to the Chandranath Temple road. Workers repairing the road there rescued her.

She was first taken to the upazila health complex and later to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Surgery was performed on her throat at Chattogram Medical College Hospital on the night of the incident. She died while undergoing treatment at the hospital around 3:30 am on Monday.

Following the incident, the child's mother filed an attempted murder case at Sitakunda Police Station on Sunday night, naming unknown persons as accused. After the child's death, the case was converted to murder.

Following nationwide criticism, police collected CCTV footage from all routes leading to the Eco Park hills. Based on footage from a CCTV camera on the road leading to Chandranath Hill, police arrested Babu Sheikh on Tuesday morning.

During preliminary interrogation, Babu Sheikh confessed to the incident. He was then taken on an operation through the Botanical Garden and Eco Park area up to Chandranath Hill. The child's clothing and sandals were recovered from there.