Magura rape: Main accused charged with murder
A month after the death of the eight-year-old girl, who was brutally raped while visiting her sister's in-laws in Magura, police have pressed murder charges against the main accused.
The horrifying crime sent shockwaves across the nation, with many demanding that the government expedite justice for rape victims and reform laws related to the safety of women and children.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The charge sheet, which accused three others of concealing information and intimidation, came a month after her death at Dhaka's Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where she lost a week-long battle for her life.
"We have submitted the charge sheet to Magura Judicial Magistrate Court pressing charges against four persons," Inspector (investigation) of Magura Sadar Police Station Md Alauddin, also the case's investigation officer, told The Daily Star.
The prime accused, Hitu Sheikh, father-in-law of the victim's sister, has been charged with rape and murder. The other three -- Hitu's wife Jaheda Begum, his son and victim's brother-in-law Sajib Sheikh, and Sajib's brother Ratul Sheikh -- have been charged with destruction of evidence of the crime and intimidation, he added.
Contacted, Superintendent of Police Mina Mahmuda said the charge sheet was submitted to the court at 9:10pm.
Police said they had already received the DNA and autopsy reports of the victim.
"The DNA samples collected from the victim's body match with the prime accused, Hitu Sheikh," said Md Aiyub Ali, officer-in-charge of Magura Sadar Police Station.
Earlier yesterday, speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the charge sheet would be submitted "by the end of the day" and expressed hope that the trial would be completed within 90 days.
"Since forensic and DNA tests have piled up evidence against the suspects, I believe the trial will progress swiftly. I am optimistic," Asif Nazrul said.
The rape of minors is punishable by death in Bangladesh, as per a law that was passed in 2020.
All four accused have been arrested and are in jail now. The prime accused has already confessed to his crime before a magistrate.
According to the case filed by her mother on March 8, the child was raped sometime between the night of March 5 and the following morning.
She was initially admitted to Magura Sadar Hospital in a serious condition and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
On March 6, she was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state. She was put on life support the next night.
When her condition deteriorated, the child was transferred to the CMH on March 8. She died at the hospital after suffering three cardiac arrests on March 13.
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