Court Orders Death for Child Murderer

A court in the port city of Chattogram has sentenced a man to death for the abduction and brutal murder of a five-year-old girl, in a case that has shocked public conscience since it occurred more than three years ago.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday at around 1:00pm by Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Muhammad Ali Akash. The convicted individual, Md Abir, was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Alina Islam Ayat, the young daughter of Sohail Rana, a resident of the EPZ area in the city. The court also imposed a monetary fine alongside the capital punishment, ordering that the amount be paid to the victim’s family.

According to the prosecution, represented by the state counsel Jalal Uddin, Abir was sentenced to death for murder and fined 100,000 taka. In default of payment, he will serve an additional three months in prison. The court further imposed a separate five-year rigorous imprisonment term for concealing the body. Judicial observations described the offence as premeditated, heinous, and deeply disturbing to society.

The verdict was announced in the presence of the accused, who was subsequently taken back into custody and sent to prison under court orders. The judge noted that the brutality and planning behind the crime had created widespread fear and outrage.

Investigative records reveal that the child went missing on 15 November 2022 from the EPZ Police Station area of Chattogram. Her family immediately filed a general diary after she disappeared. The case was later taken up by both local police and the Police Bureau of Investigation, which conducted a parallel inquiry.

Investigators identified Md Abir, a tenant in the victim’s household, as the primary suspect. He was arrested on 25 November 2022. During judicial proceedings, investigators reported that he confessed to the crime in a court statement.

Authorities stated that the child was initially abducted for ransom. However, when the plan failed, she was killed. The investigation further alleged that the body was dismembered into six parts and disposed of in bags near riverbanks and canals in an attempt to destroy evidence. A formal charge sheet was submitted to the court on 10 October 2023 following the completion of the investigation.

Another accused, a 17-year-old juvenile associate, is being tried separately in a juvenile court.

The case timeline is summarised below:

Family members of the victim expressed partial relief at the verdict while urging swift implementation of the sentence. Outside the court premises, members of the public and relatives gathered, demanding the highest punishment and welcoming the decision.

The ruling is widely regarded as a significant conclusion to one of the most disturbing child murder cases in recent years in Chattogram, though the convicted man retains the right to appeal in a higher court.