Photo : Collected

DHAKA, June 04, 2026 (BSS) – A special tribunal here today set Sunday (June 7) for delivering its judgment in a case filed over the rape and murder of second-grade student Ramisa Akter in the city's Pallabi area last month.
 
Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children's Violence Suppression Tribunal fixed the date after the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments. The prosecution, in its closing submissions, sought the maximum punishment for both accused.
 
Earlier on June 3, the two accused, Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, made their self-defence statements before the court, prompting the tribunal to fix today for arguments.
 
During the hearing on their self-defence submissions, Sohel Rana sought mercy, while Swapna Akter claimed complete innocence and prayed for justice, bench official Pankaj Peter Gomez told BSS.
 
On June 2, the tribunal completed recording the depositions of prosecution witnesses (PWs) in the case. Sixteen of the 18 listed PWs testified and were subsequently cross-examined by the defence.
 
The witnesses included Ramisa's father and complainant Abdul Hannan Mollah, mother Pervin Akter, sister Raisa Akter, aunt Mahmuda Akter, uncles Mizanur Rahman Liton and Moniruzzaman Shahin, neighbours Monir Hossain, Zakirul Islam Raju and Sheikh Abu Sama, constables Roma Akter and Sharif Miah, sub-inspector Iqbal Hossain, who prepared the inquest report, Dr Nasad Jabin, who conducted the autopsy, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Zunayed, who recorded the confessional statement of alleged killer Sohel Rana, sub-inspector Rashedul Islam and investigation officer sub-inspector Wahiduzzaman.
State-appointed defence counsel Musa Kalimullah later cross-examined all.
 
The tribunal framed charges in the case on June 1.
 
Ramisa, a Class-II student of Popular Model High School, was allegedly raped and beheaded by her neighbour, Sohel Rana, at his flat in the Millat Camp area of Pallabi on May 19. Her father filed the case the following day.
 
On May 23, the government appointed Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu as special public prosecutor to conduct the trial on behalf of the state before the Dhaka Metropolitan Children's Violence Suppression Tribunal, a newly constituted court dealing exclusively with cases of violence against children.
 
The appointment came shortly after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman  announced that the maximum punishment for Ramisa's killer would be ensured within one month.
 
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman also said the government was committed to ensuring a speedy trial in the case.
 
Police submitted a charge sheet on May 24 against alleged rapist and killer Sohel Rana and his wife and alleged accomplice, Swapna Akter.
 
On the same day, the government appointed Advocate Musa Kalimullah as state defence counsel to represent the accused before the tribunal.