A Magura court has sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in the district, just over two months after the crime shocked the local community.

Hitu Sheikh, 47, was found guilty of raping and killing Asiya, who had been visiting her sister's home at the time of the incident. 

The Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Magura also fined him Tk 100,000.

Three other accused in the case – Sajeeb Sheikh, 19, the husband of the victim’s sister; his younger brother Ratul Sheikh, 17; and their mother Zaheda Begum, 40 – were acquitted.

Judge M Zahid Hasan delivered the verdict on Saturday morning (17 May), concluding the trial just two months and 11 days after the incident.

Earlier in the day, all four accused were transported to the Magura Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in a police prison van under tight security.

The case, heard by the Magura Women and Child Abuse Prevention Tribunal, concluded its arguments on May 13, with Judge M Zahid Hasan scheduling the verdict for Saturday. 

The trial, which wrapped up testimony in just 11 working days, has drawn widespread attention, with citizens and the victim’s family demanding the maximum punishment for the accused.

Asia was raped and murdered on March 5 in Magura Sadar Upazila while visiting her sister’s home in Nijnanduali during Ramadan holidays. 

Hitu Sheikh, the sister’s father-in-law, is accused of raping and attempting to kill the child, who later died at Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital. 

Asia’s mother, Aisha Akhter, filed a case against four suspects, including Hitu Sheikh, his wife Zaheda Begum, and their sons Sajeeb and Ratul Sheikh, all of whom are in custody.

SMS/