Verdict in Magura rape case today

The verdict in a case filed over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl from Magura is set to be delivered today.

Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Magura is scheduled to announce the judgement around 9:30am, said Public Prosecutor Monirul Islam Mukul.

The court set the date on May 13 after hearing arguments from the prosecution and the defence, he added.

The four accused are Hitu Sheikh, the father-in-law of the victim's sister; his wife, Jaheda Begum; their son, Sajib Sheikh, who is the victim's brother-in-law; and Sajib's brother, Ratul Sheikh.

Hitu was charged with rape and murder, Sajib and Ratul were charged with criminal intimidation, and Jaheda was charged with tampering with evidence.

According to the case documents, on March 1, the child went to visit her elder sister's house in the Nijnanduali Mathpara area of Magura Sadar. She was raped there in the early hours of March 6.

On March 6, she was taken to the Magura 250-bed District Hospital in a critical condition and was later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

On the same day, she was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state. She was put on life support the following night.

When her condition deteriorated, the child was transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on March 8.

On March 8, her mother filed a case with Magura Sadar Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, accusing Hitu and the other three.

On March 13, she died at the CMH after suffering three cardiac arrests.

A month after her death, on April 13, investigation officer Md Alauddin, also inspector (investigation) of Magura Sadar Police Station, submitted the charge sheet of the case before the court, naming the four accused.

On April 23, the court framed charges against them.

According to the court records, 29 prosecution witnesses testified in the tribunal in connection with the case. Recording statements began on April 27 and ended on May 7.