The Chief Justice has said that a special bench of the High Court will be formed from Sunday to hear death reference cases and appeals in women and child-related cases, including those similar to the Pallabi minor girl murder case.
Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal disclosed the matter on Sunday.
He said he had requested the Chief Justice earlier in the day in this regard. Senior lawyers Pravir Neogi and Salahuddin Dolon supported his submission.
Following the discussion, the Chief Justice agreed in principle to form the special bench, he added.
Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court sentenced prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akhter to death for the rape and brutal murder of eight-year-old girl in the capital’s Mirpur Pallabi area.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children.
The court sentenced the accused to death under Section 9(2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, along with financial penalties. Sohel Rana was fined Tk 5 lakh, while Swapna was fined Tk 2 lakh.
The court ordered that the fines be paid to the legal heirs of the victim. It further directed that, in case of non-payment, the accused’s movable and immovable properties be auctioned to recover the amount for the victim’s legal heirs.
