A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter to death for the rape and murder of 8-year-old Ramisa Akter. In addition, Sohel has been fined Tk 500, 000, while Swapna has been fined Tk 200, 000. The tribunal ordered the sale of their movable and immovable assets to collect the fines and pay them to the victim’s family.

Dhaka Metropolitan Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Masrur Salekin delivered the verdict in the sensational case around 11:45am on Sunday. Both Sohel and Swapna were in the dock when the verdict was delivered.

Ramisa’s father, Abdul Hannan Molla, has expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision, as did the rest of the family and the plaintiff‚s lawyers.

ÒAlhamdulillah, I am 100 percent happy with the verdict. This verdict has given me what I expected and hoped for, ÒHannan said.

ÒIn Sha Allah, I am fully hopeful the verdict will be executed soon. By the grace of Allah and within the timeframe given by the prime minister, we have received the justice we wanted.”

He also expressed gratitude to the judge, police administration, journalists and people of Bangladesh for standing by his family during the crisis, while reiterating his demand for the rapid implementation of the death penalty.

Azizur Rahman Dulu, appointed as a special prosecutor for the case, said: ÒRamisaÕs father has received justice, we are satisfied.

State-appointed defence lawyer Musa Kalimuliah also expressed satisfaction with the verdict.

He said, Ò[Sohel] confessed to his guilt and gave a statement. He himself pleaded guilty in his own defence. The verdict has sentenced Sohel and Swapna to death.

We have received justice. The criminal has received justice for his crime. I am satisfied.”

Asked whether the verdict will be appealed, he said: ÒThe state appointed me as the defence lawyer. If the state wills it, I will appeal.”

Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal said, ÒI think this is the fastest a case like this has been tried, the fastest an investigation has been completed and a verdict delivered.”

ÒI think it should be remembered that the trial was completed in less time than the trial of the murder cases of Asiya and Sravan in Magura during the interim government. This is a milestone in the judicial process.”

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman is hopeful that the death reference and appeal of the convicts will be resolved within three months.

After the verdict, he said at the Secretariat: ÒMy expectation is that it will be possible to complete the process for executing the final verdict in this case within the next three months — if the relevant bench of the Supreme Court prioritises it and holds the hearings. I hope the Supreme Court will do so.

ÒBecause the government did not fast-track this case alone; if the chief justice had not cancelled the leave of the honorable judges until Jun 15, then it would not have been possible for the government to fast-track it.”

The law minister said, ÒIf the file comes to us within a week, we can issue it as a paper book in the next week. If we can finish the paper book within 15 days, then if it is heard under special consideration and if the hearing is held within two weeks, then it will go to the Appellate Division.

ÒI think it is possible to do this within three months. However, we will not be able to fast-track every case, so we are trying to find a way to do it quickly.”

He highlighted that this is the fastest a case of its kind had completed its trial.

The case has reached the judgment stage in just five working days, setting what judicial officials say is a record.

However, there is a precedent for previously resolving drug cases in three working days. Last year, the trial of the rape and murder case of a child, identified only as Asiya, in Magura was completed in 14 working days.

The accused in that case also received the death penalty.

Following the verdict, the court issued sentence warrants for the two convicts and ordered them to be taken to jail.

Security has been reinforced around the court premises ahead of the ruling.