Protests continue in Dhaka’s Mirpur area following the rape and murder of seven-year-old Ramisa Akter, with demands for swift justice. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has met the victim’s family and assured them of a speedy trial. However, many in Bangladesh question whether the case will avoid the long delays that have plagued similar trials over the past two decades.

The renewed attention has brought back discussion of Rasu Khan, a convicted serial killer from Chandpur accused of murdering 11 women after raping them. Although lower courts and the High Court upheld his death sentences in two cases, the executions remain pending due to prolonged legal procedures. Lawyers and rights activists cite complex judicial processes and delays in preparing case documents as key reasons for such backlogs.

A joint study by the Supreme Court and BRAC found that conviction rates in women and child abuse cases are only three percent, with most cases taking years to conclude. Officials expect Rasu Khan’s appeal hearing to take place within months, but many similar cases remain unresolved in Bangladesh’s courts.