Magura: A court here today convicted and sentenced prime accused Hitu Sheikh to death, but acquitted three others in a case lodged over the rape and subsequent murder of an eight-year-old girl in the district in March. Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal pronounced the judgment in presence of the accused.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, after concluding the arguments of the defense and prosecution on May 13, the court had set today for the judgment. The tragic incident occurred on March 6 when Hitu Sheikh, father-in-law of the child's elder sister, raped the girl while she was visiting their house. She succumbed to her injuries on March 13.
Initially admitted to Magura Sadar Hospital in critical condition, the girl was later transferred to Dhaka's Combined Military Hospital, where she died on March 13. Following the incident, the victim's mother filed a case with Magura Sadar Police Station on March 8 under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
After a thorough investigation, police submitted the charge sheet against four individuals on April 13, and the court framed charges against them on April 23. Special public prosecutor Ehsanul Haque Samaji expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "The judgment was expected as the accused gave statements under section 164, and the witnesses too gave the same testimonies. We received justice."