Magura: A Magura court has announced that it will deliver the verdict on May 17 in the case concerning the rape and murder of an 8-year-old child. Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal issued the order after concluding arguments from both the plaintiff and the defense. Public Prosecutor Monirul Islam Mukul confirmed the participation of both prosecution and defense lawyers, as well as the presence of the four accused in court.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the trial proceedings were completed in just 21 days, reflecting the public interest nature of the case. The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier appointed senior lawyer Ehsanul Haque Samaji, holding a rank equivalent to the Attorney General, as the special public prosecutor. After the hearing, Samaji expressed confidence in the evidence presented, stating, "The accused have confessed under Section 164 and the medical evidence and witness statements clearly prove their guilt. We expect the maximum punishment. This verdict will set an example to prevent such crimes."
Prosecutor Monirul Islam Mukul indicated that the prosecution presented a total of 29 witnesses. The court also recorded statements from the accused under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Witness testimonies commenced on April 27 and proceeded uninterrupted except for holidays. The investigation officer submitted the charge sheet on April 13, which was accepted on April 20, leading to the formal commencement of the trial with charge framing on April 23.
Case details reveal that on March 6, the child was visiting her elder sister's in-laws' house when she was raped. She was initially treated at Magura Sadar Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka's Combined Military Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries on March 13. The victim's mother subsequently filed a case with Magura Sadar Police Station on March 8 under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
The police investigation led to a charge sheet against four individuals. The victim's sister's father-in-law faces charges under Section 9(2) of the Act (rape leading to death), while the sister's husband and brother-in-law are charged under Section 506 (intimidation). The sister's mother-in-law faces charges under Section 201 of the Penal Code (destroying evidence).