A Dhaka tribunal on Sunday sentenced prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akhter to death in a case filed over the rape and murder of Pallabi minor girl in the capital’s Mirpur.
The tribunal also fined the main accused Sohel Rana Tk 5 lakh and his wife Swapna Akhter Tk 2 lakh.
The tribunal ordered that the fine, once realized, be paid to the victim’s family. If the convicts fail to pay, the district collector will take steps to recover the amount by auctioning their movable and immovable properties, in accordance with the law.
The verdict in the widely discussed case was delivered at around 11:30am on Sunday by Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children.
Earlier in the morning, accused Swapna Akhter was brought to court premises from Kashimpur Central Jail at 8:25am, while prime accused Sohel Rana was brought from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj at around 8:45am.
Judge Masrur Salekin began reading out the verdict at 11:05am and, after reviewing all evidence and testimonies, found them guilty and sentenced them to death. In addition to the capital punishment, the court also imposed financial penalties on the convicts.
Earlier in the day, the complainant in the case and the victim’s father Hannan Molla appeared before the court to hear the verdict. He expressed hope that the accused would receive the maximum punishment, including the death penalty. Following the judgment, he expressed satisfaction with the verdict and demanded its swift execution.
The tribunal concluded the trial proceedings in just four working days on Thursday. After framing charges, recording witness testimonies, hearing the defence statements, and concluding arguments from both sides, the court fixed June 7 for the delivery of the verdict.
Security was tightened in and around the court premises ahead of the verdict, with additional police personnel deployed and surveillance increased across the court compound and tribunal area.
Individuals involved in the judicial process said it is extremely rare in Bangladesh for a child rape and murder case to be tried and concluded within such a short period.
The incident took place on May 19. According to the prosecution, at around 9:30am that day, the seven-year-old girl left her apartment when neighbours Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter allegedly lured her into their room.
The victim lived with her family in an apartment building in Pallabi’s Section-11 area and was a second-grade student at Popular Model High School. Sohel and Swapna resided in a sublet room in the same building.
Investigators later found that the minor girl was confined in a bathroom, raped, and then murdered. In an apparent attempt to conceal the crime, her head was severed from her body and both arms were partially detached near the shoulders.
According to the case documents, the accused hid the headless body under a bed, while the severed head was placed in a bucket inside the bathroom. Sohel Rana then allegedly cut through a window grille and fled the scene.
At around 10:30am, family members began searching for the girl before sending her to school. Her mother eventually spotted the child's sandals outside the room occupied by Sohel and Swapna.
After receiving no response despite repeated calls, neighbours forced open the door and discovered the headless body under the bed and the severed head inside a bathroom bucket. Swapna Akter was present inside the room at the time.
Later that night, police arrested Sohel Rana from the Fatullah area of Narayanganj with the help of information technology-based tracking. Shortly after midnight on May 20, victim’s father Hannan Molla filed a murder case with Pallabi Police Station.
The following day, after being produced before a court, Sohel Rana agreed to give a voluntary confessional statement. Investigating officer Sub-Inspector (SI) Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station applied to have the statement recorded. The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid accepted the confession and ordered Sohel to be sent to jail.
On the same day, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ashraful Haque, acting on a separate application, ordered the detention of Sohel’s wife, Swapna Akhter, in jail pending further proceedings.
On May 21, two days after the murder, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the house of the slain girl and consoled the family.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit, had said efforts would be made to complete the trial proceedings as quickly as possible and ensure the highest punishment for the accused.
On May 22, the General Secretary of the Dhaka Bar Association announced that no lawyer from the Bar would represent the accused. However, under Bangladesh’s criminal justice system, if an accused fails to secure legal representation, the state is obliged to ensure legal aid. Accordingly, the state appointed lawyers for the accused. At the same time, a deadline was set to expedite the investigation and submission of the charge sheet.
Within just five days of the incident, on May 24, the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman, submitted the charge sheet against the two accused before the court. On the same day, Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ashraful Haque accepted the charge sheet and observed that the case was ready for trial, subsequently directing that it be sent to the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Prevention Tribunal. The tribunal judge, Masrur Saleqin, also took cognizance of the charge sheet on the same day.
Although the Eid-ul-Azha holidays had begun, judicial proceedings in the case continued in view of its urgency. Despite limited court operations during the vacation period, special arrangements were made to hear the case.
On June 1, charges were formally framed in the presence of both accused. Summons were issued the same day, directing 18 witnesses, including the complainant, to appear before the court on June 2.
On June 2, 16 witnesses, including the complainant, appeared and testified in court. Their statements were recorded and cross-examination was completed in the presence of the accused. After the conclusion of witness testimony, the court fixed June 3 for the accused’s self-defense hearing.
During the self-defense hearing on June 3, the principal accused, Sohel Rana, reportedly confessed his involvement before the court and sought forgiveness, according to court sources. His wife Swapna Aktar, on the other hand, pleaded innocence and sought acquittal.
On June 4, both the prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments. Special Public Prosecutor Azizul Rahman Dulu appeared for the state, while state-appointed defense counsel Musa Kalimullah represented the accused.
The prosecution argued that the testimony of 16 witnesses and other evidence proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt and demanded the maximum punishment of death. The defense, however, sought life imprisonment for Sohel Rana and a seven-year sentence for Swapna Akhtar.
Finally, the court fixed June 7 for the delivery of the verdict. From framing of charges to closing arguments, the entire trial was completed within just four working days.