A Dhaka court 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 at 11:30 a.m. by Judge Masrur Salehin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Suppression of Violence Against Children. According to lawyers, the convicts have the right to appeal the judgment within seven working days.

The court imposed the maximum penalty under Section 9(2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. In addition to the death sentence, Sohel was fined 500,000 taka and Swapna 200,000 taka, with the compensation to be paid to Ramisa’s legal heirs. The court also ordered that if the fines are not paid, the convicts’ movable and immovable property be auctioned to provide compensation to the victim’s family.

The judgment has been described as a milestone for ensuring justice in child murder cases, with Ramisa’s father expressing satisfaction and calling for swift execution of the verdict. The law minister expressed hope that the High Court will uphold the ruling.