Parents testify as trial begins for 8-year-old murder in Dhaka
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The parents of an eight-year-old girl, who was brutally raped and murdered in the capital’s Pallabi area, testified in a Dhaka child abuse tribunal on Tuesday as the formal trial in the high-profile case began.
The proceedings opened with the court framing charges against the primary suspects, Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, on Monday. Judge Abul Hasnat presided as the legal process moved into the testimony phase, with both defendants escorted to the courtroom under heavy security.
The victim’s father, testifying from a seated position due to poor health, recounted the harrowing events of the day of the murder. He testified that he had left for work at approximately 9:30 a.m., only to receive an urgent call from his wife less than an hour later. Upon rushing home, he found a crowd gathered outside their building. His wife informed him that their daughter was trapped in a neighboring flat.
According to the father’s testimony, neighbors and family members broke down the door of the flat after receiving no response. Upon entering, they discovered the room covered in blood. He testified that he saw Swapna standing amidst the gore. Upon searching the premises, they discovered the child’s decapitated body hidden under a steel bed frame, with her head found inside a bucket. Overcome with emotion, the father wept in court when shown photographic evidence of the crime scene.
During the hearing, the state prosecutor, Azizur Rahman, raised concerns regarding the conduct of the accused, citing instances where Sohel Rana had spoken erratically to the media. The prosecution requested that the court restrict the defendants’ access to journalists during transport to and from the prison, arguing that the accused should be prevented from using the media as a platform.
The trial comes amid heightened public outrage over the brutality of the crime. Following the father’s emotional account and subsequent cross-examination by the defense, the court moved to hear the testimony of the victim’s mother. The tribunal is expected to continue the witness deposition process in the coming sessions.
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