The harrowing details surrounding the horrific assault and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter have been laid bare in court. The Dhaka Child Violence Suppression Tribunal, presided over by Judge Masrur Salekin, concluded arguments from both sides on Thursday (4 June). The court has officially scheduled the final verdict for Sunday, 7 June.
During the proceedings, which commenced at 11:50 AM in a courtroom packed with attendees, State Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu read out a chilling, previously confidential confession. This marked the first time the public heard the deposition given under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the prime accused, Sohel Rana.
“I regularly abuse drugs,” Rana’s confession stated. “I live on the third floor. On that morning, when the neighbouring eight-year-old child, Ramisa, came outside her flat, I lured her in. I dragged her into the bathroom and assaulted her. When she screamed, I gagged her with a scarf… Thinking she was dead, I fetched a knife to dispose of the body. I severed her head…”
The horrific account detailed how Rana’s gruesome attempt to dismember the child was interrupted when Ramisa’s mother began searching for her, noticing her daughter’s shoes outside the flat. Panicked, Rana used a wrench to cut through the window grilles and fled the scene.
Case Timeline and Key Details
The prosecution has built a robust case, presenting substantial evidence and testimonies over a remarkably swift period. The police discovered Ramisa’s dismembered remains on 19 May in a flat located in the Pallabi district of the capital. Shortly thereafter, Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, were apprehended by law enforcement.
To provide a clear overview of the case milestones leading up to the upcoming verdict, the following table outlines the key events:
| Date | Event / Court Milestone |
| 19 May | Police recover the dismembered body of 8-year-old Ramisa Akter from a flat in Pallabi. |
| Post-Arrest | Prime suspect Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter are arrested; Rana confesses under Section 164. |
| 2 June | Court hears testimonies from 16 witnesses, including Ramisa’s parents, sister, neighbours, and the investigating officer. |
| 4 June | Closing arguments take place; Sohel Rana’s graphic confession is read publicly for the first time. |
| 7 June | Scheduled date for the final verdict by the Child Violence Suppression Tribunal. |
Defence Arguments and Medical Distress
Following the prosecution’s harrowing recital, the defence presented its arguments. The atmosphere in the courtroom remained tense, exacerbated by a brief delay when Rana’s co-accused wife, Swapna Akter, complained of feeling severely unwell. She was administered immediate first aid on-site before being deemed fit to stand in the dock alongside her husband.
With the testimonies of 16 vital witnesses—including the victim’s grieving parents, neighbours, and the chief investigating officer—now successfully recorded, the public and the victim’s family await Sunday’s judgment in hopes of swift justice.