The testimony phase in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter concluded within a single day on Tuesday.
Out of 18 witnesses, 16 made their depositions against prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter before the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal.
After recording the depositions of witnesses, Judge Masrur Salekin fixed Wednesday for the accused to present their self-defence statements.
State-appointed defence counsel Musa Kalimullah cross-examined the witnesses during the session, which started at 10:30am, said tribunal Bench Assistant Pankaj Peter Gomes.
Ramisa’s father Abdul Mannan Molla, who is also the plaintiff of the case, was the first to make his deposition, followed by her mother, elder sister and others.
In his deposition, the victim’s father recounted the horrifying sequence of events. After being informed by his wife that their youngest daughter was missing, he rushed home from his office.
Upon arriving, he found neighbours gathered outside the locked apartment of their neighbour Sohel Rana. The door lock was broken with a hammer.
"We broke into the apartment and saw blood stains in the bathroom. When we lifted the steel bed in the main room, we discovered my daughter's decapitated body. Her severed head was hidden inside a bucket next to the bed," the father testified.
The victim's mother provided a harrowing account of the morning of May 19. She noted that while cooking, she heard a child's scream emanating from Sohel Rana’s flat but initially assumed it was another infant.
Suspicion arose later when she noticed her own front door standing open and her youngest daughter missing. Upon searching the building, she found her daughter’s shoe sitting right outside Sohel Rana’s door.
Due to her legal status as a minor, the victim's elder sister testified under a "camera trial" (closed-door session) following an application by Special Public Prosecutor Azizul Haque Dulu.
Depositions were also recorded from the victim’s aunt, uncle, building residents, neighbours, police constables Ruma Akter and Sharif Mia, Sub-Inspector (SI) Iqbal Hosain who prepared the inquest report, Dr Nasad Jamin who prepared the autopsy report, and Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid who recorded the initial confessional statements, SI Rashedul Islam and Investigating Officer (IO) Ohiduzzaman.
Special Public Prosecutor Azizul Haque told UNB that legal arguments will begin after the completion of the defence hearing. After that, the tribunal will deliver its verdict.
Completing the testimony recording of a case within a single day is a rare occurrence, he said, describing it as an example of speedy trial proceedings in serious and sensitive cases.
Before the testimony recording, accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter were produced before the tribunal.
Meanwhile, the tribunal instructed that no statements from accused persons held in police custody shall be broadcast in connection with the case.
The order came following a petition filed by the state.
Azizul Haque argued before the tribunal that under the law, no accused person in police custody has the right to make public statements before a trial court.
He said there are clear instructions from higher courts on this matter.
The Special PP further requested the tribunal to issue necessary directives to prevent any situation that could affect the ongoing judicial process, including restrictions on media dissemination of statements made by accused persons in police custody.
Following the hearing, the tribunal granted the petition and instructed the authorities concerned to take necessary measures.
Earlier, on Monday, the tribunal framed charges against the two accused in the case and fixed Tuesday for recording testimonies of witnesses.
Before that, on May 24, the IO – Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station – submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka. Later, the case was transferred to the tribunal.
Ramisa Akter was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, a tenant of a neighbouring flat, on May 19.
According to the case details, accused Sohel lured her into his room and later killed her after rape.
Ramisa’s decapitated body was found beneath the bed while her severed head was found inside a bucket in the bathroom.
While Swapna Akter was detained from the scene, Sohel Rana managed to escape by cutting through a window grille.
He was tracked down and arrested by police later in Fatullah of Narayanganj.