Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said in parliament on Sunday that the verdict in the rape and murder case of a Pallabi minor met the prosecution’s expectations, while the government would continue efforts to speed up trials in other rape cases.
He said the court’s decision to sentence prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akhter, to death matched the punishment sought by the prosecution.
He added: “From the prosecution side, we presented all the witnesses and evidence. The verdict we had expected, the verdict we had proposed and the verdict we had prayed for before the court — after reviewing all the testimony and evidence — the court delivered the verdict.”
He said: “We are pleased to announce that in the Pallabi child murder case, two accused persons — the principal accused Sohel and his accomplice, his wife — have been sentenced to death by the court.”
The minor was raped and murdered in Dhaka’s Pallabi area on May 19, in a case that drew nationwide outrage and renewed concern over violence against children.
Highlighting the pace of the legal process, Asaduzzaman said police completed the investigation within five days and submitted the report on May 24. The charge sheet was transferred from the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court to the relevant tribunal the same day.
He said the government took additional steps to prevent delays caused by the judiciary’s summer recess.
He said: “One concern we faced was that all lower courts, except magistrates, were set to go on summer vacation from June 1 to June 15.”
He added that, at the government’s request, the chief justice exempted tribunals dealing with violence against women and children from the vacation period.
The minister also said authorities moved quickly after the accused initially failed to appoint legal counsel.
He said: “Once the charge sheet was filed on May 24, the accused had not appointed any lawyers, which could have been used to undermine the trial process. The government then arranged for state defense.”
Referring to the emotional toll of the case, Asaduzzaman said the killing of the Pallabi minor had deeply affected the nation and that the government remained committed to ensuring justice.
He said: “The murder of child weighs upon our lives like the Himalayas. If we can carry out the execution of those sentenced to death, their deaths will be as light as a feather to the nation. We believe this is our responsibility — our promise to the people.”
He also referred to remarks made earlier by the child’s father, who had reportedly expressed doubts about receiving justice.
He said: “When journalists referred to the victim’s father saying he did not want justice, we replied that the only answer would be to restore his trust.”
He added that after hearing the judgment on Sunday, the girl's father said he was satisfied with the verdict.
Asaduzzaman said the government is expediting trials in other rape and violence against women and children cases to ensure timely justice.
