Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal has sentenced main accused Hitu Sheikh to death in 8-year-old child rape and murder case.
Meanwhile, another three accused in the case were acquitted as their charges were not proved.
The tribunal Judge M Jahid Hasan pronounced the judgement on Saturday (May 17).
The trial of this controversial case ended 21 days after the indictment or trial began. The verdict in this case was reached just two months and 11 days after the incident.
Three accused, who were acquitted, are Hitu's wife Jaheda Begum, 38, and his sons -- Ratul Sheikh, 18, and Sajib Sheikh, 20.
Earlier this morning, the four defendants were brought from prison to the Magura court under tight security.
According to the case statement, the 8-year-old child on March 6 went to visit her elder sister's house in Nijnanduali Mathpara area of Magura Sadar. She was raped there in the early hours of March 6.
A week later, she died at Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
The brutal incident sparked protests across the country. University students, including those from Dhaka University, staged demonstrations on their campuses demanding capital punishment for the accused.
Police arrested the victim’s brother-in-law Sajib Sheikh, 20; his brother Ratul Sheikh, 25; and their parents Hitu Sheikh, 50, and Jabeda Begum, 40, in connection with the incident.
On April 13, sub-inspector Md Alauddin of Magura Sadar Police Station, the investigation officer in the case, submitted a charge sheet to the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, naming the four as accused.
Earlier, on April 23, the same court framed charges against them.
Prime accused Hitu Sheikh has been charged with rape and murder, and he made a confessional statement before the court.
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