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The High Court is set to deliver its verdict on Tuesday in the widely discussed rape and murder case of eight-year-old Ayesha in Magura.
The verdict will be delivered by a High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja after concluding hearings on Monday (August 24) on death reference and appeal filed by convict Hitu Sheikh.
State-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan represented Hitu Sheikh, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek appeared for the state.
The child was raped and assaulted on the night of March 5 last year while visiting her sister’s house in Nijnanduali area of Magura town. Hitu Sheikh, the father-in-law of the girl’s sister, allegedly raped and attempted to kill her.
The eight-year-old later died while undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.
The victim’s mother filed a case against four people, and police later arrested all of them.
Police submitted the charge sheet on April 13, 2025, and the trial began on April 23. The prosecution examined 29 witnesses, with the trial proceedings completed in just 13 working days.
On May 17 last year, the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced Hitu Sheikh, 47, to death and fined him Tk 100,000. The court acquitted the other three accused.
The acquitted were Sajib Sheikh, 19, the victim’s sister’s husband; Sajib’s younger brother, 17; and Sajib’s mother Zaheda Begum, 40.
As required by law, the death sentence was referred to the High Court for confirmation. The case records were sent to the High Court on May 21 last year, followed by preparation of the paper book.
The High Court subsequently listed the case for hearing before the specialised bench.