A Chittagong court on Wednesday sentenced a man to death for the abduction and murder of a five-year-old child in 2022.
The court also fined the convict Tk100,000 and ordered the amount to be paid to the victim's family.
Chittagong Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Muhammad Ali Akkas delivered the verdict. Convict Md Abir Ali, 32, was present in court during the hearing and was later sent to jail.
Supporters of the victim's family staged demonstrations outside the court premises on Wednesday morning, demanding the highest punishment for the accused.
Public Prosecutor Jalal Uddin said the prosecution examined 33 witnesses and successfully proved the charges against the accused.
"The court found the accused guilty and awarded the death penalty. It also ordered a fine of Tk100,000, which will be paid to the victim's family," he said.
According to police and court sources, the child, daughter of Sohel Rana of the Bandartila area under EPZ police station in Chittagong, went missing on November 15, 2022. Her family subsequently filed a general diary with the police, prompting the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to launch an investigation.
Investigators said the accused had abducted the child with the intention of demanding ransom from her family. He allegedly purchased a mobile phone for that purpose and attempted to use a SIM card he had previously collected. However, when the plan failed, he killed the child and later disposed of the body in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Following his arrest on November 25, 2022, the accused gave a confessional statement before a court.
The PBI later recovered parts of the victim's remains from the Patenga area. Her father subsequently filed a murder case with EPZ police station.
On October 10, 2023, PBI Inspector Monoj Dey submitted the charge sheet, naming Abir and a 17-year-old accomplice as accused. The identity of the minor has been withheld in accordance with legal provisions.
Abir has remained in custody since his arrest.
Reacting to the verdict, the victim's father said: "Nothing can bring my daughter back. I want the verdict to be implemented as quickly as possible."
