The charge framing hearing against Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, in the case over the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in the capital's Pallabi area will be held on Monday. The hearing will formally mark the beginning of the trial.
On May 24, the court of Masrur Salekin, judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal, fixed June 1 for the charge framing hearing.
Pankaj Peter Gomes, bench assistant of the tribunal, confirmed the matter.
Omar Faruk Faruki, public prosecutor of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, said, "The charge framing hearing will be held tomorrow, marking the commencement of the trial. Thereafter, witness testimonies will be recorded on a daily basis. We expect the verdict to be delivered within a short period of time."
He added, "Although the court is scheduled to remain on vacation until June 15, the government has cancelled the leave of the tribunal's judge, who has accepted the decision to continue proceedings in this case."
Earlier on May 24, the court took cognizance of the charge sheet submitted against Sohail Rana and Swapna Akter in connection with the rape and murder of a seven-year-old schoolgirl. As the case was deemed ready for trial, it was transferred to the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal for proceedings.
On Sunday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ashraful Haque reviewed the charge sheet and ordered the transfer of the case.
SI Abul Kalam Azad of the prosecution division confirmed the matter.
SI Ahiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station and the investigating officer submitted the charge sheet against the two accused.
"The allegation of rape followed by murder against Sohail Rana and the allegation of abetting the victim's death following the rape against Swapna Akter have been substantiated through the investigation," SI Ahiduzzaman said.
The investigating officer added that 18 people have been listed as prosecution witnesses in the case.
On May 19, seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped and brutally murdered in Pallabi, Dhaka.
