Ramisa rape-murder trial advances as court hears 10 witnesses

The trial in the rape and murder case of child victim Ramisa made significant progress on Tuesday as a Dhaka tribunal recorded testimonies from 10 of the 17 witnesses listed in the charge-sheet.

Proceedings took place at the Child Violence Suppression Tribunal in the capital, where Judge Masrur Saleqin oversaw the hearing. The witness examination began with the testimony of the complainant in the case, Abdul Hannan Molla, the victim’s father, who provided his account before the court.

Several family members and individuals connected to the case subsequently gave evidence. Among them were Ramisa’s mother, Parveen Akter, her elder sister Raisa Akter, aunt Mahmuda Akter, uncle Mizanur Rahman Liton, and a number of residents and neighbours from the locality. Their testimonies were recorded as part of the prosecution’s effort to establish the sequence of events surrounding the crime.

The witnesses were also cross-examined by state-appointed defence lawyer Musa Kalimullah during the proceedings. Court officials said the hearing progressed smoothly, with all scheduled witnesses present.

After the morning session, the tribunal temporarily adjourned proceedings until the afternoon, with plans to continue recording statements from the remaining witnesses. According to court officials, there was a possibility that testimony from the rest of the charge-sheet witnesses could be completed on the same day if sufficient time remained.

Meanwhile, the two accused in the case were brought before the court under tight security. Prime suspect Sohel Rana was produced from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, while co-accused Swapna Akter, his wife, was brought from Kashimpur Jail. The pair were initially held in the court’s designated holding area before being escorted into the courtroom for the hearing.

The case, which drew widespread public attention following the brutal rape and throat-slitting murder of the child in Pallabi, Mirpur, continues to move through the judicial process as the tribunal seeks to complete witness examinations and proceed with the next stages of the trial.