A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Khatun to death for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa in Pallabi, Mirpur. The verdict was delivered on Sunday morning by Judge Masrur Salehin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for Suppression of Violence Against Children. Sohel was also fined Tk 500,000 and Swapna Tk 200,000, with the compensation to be paid to Ramisa’s legal heirs. The court ordered that if the fines are not paid, the convicts’ assets will be auctioned to compensate the victim’s family.
The case stemmed from the May 19 incident when Ramisa, a second-grade student, was found dead in the suspects’ apartment. The murder sparked nationwide outrage and demands for swift justice. Police arrested Sohel from Narayanganj and Swapna from the crime scene, later filing charges under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and the Penal Code. The investigation included DNA, forensic, and witness evidence, which prosecutors said conclusively proved the charges.
The entire judicial process—from investigation to verdict—was completed in just 17 days, marking one of the fastest trials in recent memory. Observers believe the ruling sends a strong message against violence toward women and children.