The Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal has sentenced a man and his wife to death for the rape and brutal murder of an eight-year-old child in the Pallabi area of the capital. The verdict was delivered on Sunday, 7 June 2026, marking the conclusion of judicial proceedings just 19 days after the crime was committed.
The tribunal’s judge, Masroor Salekin, assumed the bench at 11:00 to read the case summary and officially pronounced the judgment at 11:40. Alongside the capital punishment, the primary convict, Sohel Rana, was fined 500,000 BDT, whilst his wife and co-convict, Swapna Akter, was ordered to pay a fine of 200,000 BDT.
Chronology of the Case
The criminal incident and subsequent legal actions unfolded rapidly within a 19-day window, moving from the initial discovery of the victim to the final tribunal verdict:
19 May 2026: Law enforcement officials recovered the dismembered remains of the eight-year-old child from a residential apartment in Pallabi. Prior to the police entry, Sohel Rana escaped by breaking the iron grills of a bathroom window. His wife, Swapna Akter, was apprehended at the scene. Sohel Rana was subsequently tracked down and arrested later that evening in the Fatullah area of Narayanganj. The victim’s father formally filed a case at the Pallabi Police Station.
20 May 2026: Both accused individuals were produced before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid, where they rendered voluntary confessional statements.
1 June 2026: The tribunal framed formal charges against Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter, initiating a continuous trial phase that encompassed witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and the presentation of evidence.
4 June 2026: The prosecution and defence concluded their final arguments. The prosecution presented emotional testimonies from the victim’s parents and argued that Rana deserved the maximum penalty under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The state attorney further argued that Swapna Akter deserved strict legal punishment for actively abetting the crime and failing to intervene. The court then fixed 7 June as the date for the verdict.
7 June 2026: The convicts were transferred from central prison to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court lockup under heavy police escort. Swapna Akter arrived at 08:30, followed by Sohel Rana at 08:50, prior to their appearance in the tribunal for the 11:40 judgment.
Case Summary Data
The following table provides a concise, fact-checked overview of the legal milestones and judicial parameters of the Pallabi case:
| Trial Component | Case Details and Dates |
| Primary Convict & Penalty | Sohel Rana; Death penalty and 500,000 BDT fine |
| Co-Convict & Penalty | Swapna Akter; Death penalty and 200,000 BDT fine |
| Victim Profile | Eight-year-old child |
| Date of Offence & Discovery | Tuesday, 19 May 2026 |
| Date of Confessional Statement | Wednesday, 20 May 2026 |
| Date of Charge Framing | Monday, 1 June 2026 |
| Date of Final Arguments | Thursday, 4 June 2026 |
| Date of Final Verdict | Sunday, 7 June 2026 |
| Total Trial Duration | 19 Days from the date of the incident |
| Judicial Authority | Judge Masroor Salekin, Child Violence Suppression Tribunal |
Legal and Prosecution Statements
Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Hulu clarified the state’s stance following the conclusion of the arguments on Thursday, confirming that the prosecution had sought the maximum statutory penalty under existing child protection laws.
“We demanded the highest punishment for the accused in accordance with the law based on the gravity of the offences and corroborating evidence. The tribunal has exercised its judicial discretion in delivering this verdict.”
— Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Hulu