Asiya rape, murder case stuck in High Court despite death sentence

More than a year after a trial court sentenced the accused to death in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Asiya in Magura, the mandatory death reference remains pending before the High Court, delaying the final disposal of the verdict.

On 17 May last year, the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, presided over by Judge M Zahid Hasan, convicted Hitu Sheikh and sentenced him to death for the brutal rape and murder of the child.

Following the verdict, the death reference was sent to the High Court within four days as required by law. However, despite the passage of more than a year, there has been no significant progress in the appellate process, leaving the case effectively stalled at the higher judicial stage.

Asiya was attacked on 6 March last year while visiting her sister’s in-laws’ home in Nijnanduali Village under Magura Sadar Upazila. She sustained critical injuries and was first taken to local hospitals in Magura and Faridpur before being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. As her condition deteriorated further, she was later shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka, where she died on 13 March.

The incident had sparked widespread public outrage across the country, with protests and demands for swift justice dominating social media and public spaces. However, attention has gradually diminished over time.

The trial itself was completed within just 14 working days, making it one of the fastest concluded high-profile cases involving child rape and murder in recent years.

Despite the conviction, the accused remains in prison as the legal process continues. Meanwhile, Asiya’s family continues to wait for final justice.

Legal experts note that a significant backlog of death reference cases is pending before the High Court, often resulting in hearings being scheduled according to filing order, which delays newer cases.

Senior lawyers and prosecutors have suggested forming dedicated benches or prioritising such sensitive cases to ensure quicker disposal, arguing that delayed justice weakens public confidence in the legal system and reduces the deterrent effect of capital punishment in heinous crimes.