Hearings have concluded in the death reference and appeal in the case of eight-year-old Asiya, who was raped and murdered in Magura, with the High Court set to deliver its verdict Tuesday.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice K M Rashiduzzaman Raja concluded hearings Monday, August 24, and set Tuesday as the date for the verdict on the death reference and appeal filed by convict Hitu Sheikh. State-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan represented the defense, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek represented the state.
On the night of March 5 last year, the child was raped while visiting her sister’s home in the Nijnandualy area of Magura town. Her sister’s father-in-law, Hitu Sheikh, not only raped the girl but also attempted to kill her.
The eight-year-old later died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital. The victim’s mother filed a case naming Hitu Sheikh and three others, and police subsequently arrested all four.
Police submitted a charge sheet in the closely watched case on April 13, 2025. The trial began with the framing of charges on April 23, and the recording of evidence began April 27. A total of 29 witnesses testified for the prosecution.
Evidence in the case concluded on May 7 last year, with the trial concluding in just 13 working days. Closing arguments concluded on May 13 last year before Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, and the trial court delivered its verdict on May 17 that same year.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report