A Magura court on Saturday sentenced a man to death and acquitted three people in the much-talked rape and murder case of eight-year-old Asiya.
The court sentenced Hitu Sheikh, 50, prime accused in the case and father-in-law of Asiya’s sister to death while acquitted Hitu’s wife Jabeda Begum, 40 and two sons- Sajib Sheikh, 20 and Ratul Sheikh, 25.
Judge Md Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal announced the judgment.
A total of 29 witnesses testified in the case and seven pieces of evidence were seized, he added.
The rape took place on the night of March 5, when the victim was visiting her sister’s in-laws’ house in Nijnanduali village of Sadar upazila.
She went to bed with her sister that night, but around midnight, her sister found her missing and began searching for her.
After a frantic search, the girl was found unconscious a few yards from the house. She was initially admitted to Magura General Hospital and later transferred to Faridpur MedicalCollege Hospital as her condition worsened.
She was then moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and later to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka, where she died on March 13.
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 Hitu Sheikh and three of his family members 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 court framed charges against them.
Prime accused Hitu Sheikh was charged with rape and murder, and he made a confessional statement before the court.
Meanwhile, the mother of the Magura rape and murder victim Asiya has expressed dissatisfaction following the court verdict that acquitted three of the four accused.
Expressing her frustration, the unhappy mother said all three of them may do the same thing to others after they are released, and wondered who would be responsible for that.
Talking to reporters before leaving the court premises, she said she was not satisfied with the verdict, as the three accused deserved punishment because they assisted in the murder and concealed information.
Her reaction came after Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Magura sentenced the prime accused, Hitu Sheikh, to death for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Asiya.
However, the court acquitted Hitu's wife Jaheda Begum, 38, and his sons — Ratul Sheikh, 18, and Sajib Sheikh, 20.
Public Prosecutor Monirul Islam Mukul told reporters that the allegations against them could not be proven in court.
When asked about Asiya's mother's dissatisfaction with the verdict, Ehsanul Haque Shomaji, the special prosecutor, said, "First of all, we represent the state. Those of us who represent the state have the responsibility to protect the state's interests. I have said that we are not satisfied with the trial court's acquittal order of the accused."
"We will collect a copy of the verdict and review it through the relevant authorities according to the rules. If advised or instructed by the relevant authorities, there is an opportunity to file an appeal in the higher court," he added.
