Asiya rape-murder case: Verdict on death reference, appeal Monday

Asiya rape and miurder case

Dhaka, Aug 31 --The High Court is set to deliver its verdict Monday on the death reference and appeal involving Hitu Sheikh, the main convict in the murder of a child in Magura.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja will deliver the verdict.

The same bench on Tuesday fixed the date for the verdict following a time petition filed by the state.

The hearing on the death reference and appeal filed by Hitu Sheikh ended on August 24.

State-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan is defending Hitu in court, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek is representing the state.

A Magura court on May 17, 2025, sentenced Hitu Sheikh, 50, the prime accused in the case and father-in-law of Asiya’s elder sister, to death, while acquitted his wife Jabeda Begum, 40, and two sons – Sajib Sheikh, 20, and Ratul Sheikh, 25.

After the verdict, Hitu appealed against the death sentence at the High Court.

At the same time, the death reference in the case came to the High Court for the approval of a death sentence.

The child was raped on Mar 6, 2025, while visiting her sister's house in Sreepur Upazila of Magura.

She was taken from Magura Sadar Hospital to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and later to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

When her condition deteriorated, she was taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on Mar 8. The child died there on Mar 13 while undergoing treatment.

Before that, on Mar 8, the child's mother had filed a case against Hitu and four others at Magura Sadar Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

The main accused in the case, Hitu, gave a confessional statement under Section 164 in the court on Mar 15.

Later, after the completion of the investigation, the police filed a charge sheet on Apr 13.

On Apr 23, the court framed charges against Hitu under Section 9(2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and against the other three accused under separate sections of the Penal Code, ordering the trial to begin.

After hearing the testimonies of 29 state witnesses in a trial that lasted just a few days, the tribunal announced its verdict in the case on May 17 of that year. - UNB