Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said the government will draw the attention of the Supreme Court to expedite the death reference hearing in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Ramisa in Pallabi.

“We will also bring the matter to the attention of the Supreme Court and request the Attorney General’s Office to take steps so that the death reference hearing in the Ramisa murder case can be advanced legally,” he told reporters while giving reaction over the verdict in the rape and murder case, at the Secretariat.

The Home minister’s remarks came hours after a Dhaka court sentenced prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, to death for the rape and murder of the child.

The government's policy is to reward police officers for good performance and rebuke them in cases of failure, he said adding that the police force's role in the case deserved appreciation.

Salahuddin said the brutal rape and murder of Ramisa had triggered outrage across the country, prompting swift action by law enforcement agencies.

“Meeting public expectations, we completed DNA testing, collected the postmortem report and submitted the charge sheet to the court within a very short period of time,” he said.

He also praised the judiciary for conducting the trial expeditiously, noting that court officials continued proceedings even during the Eid holiday period.

The government ensured a fair trial by appointing legal counsel for both the prosecution and the accused, while doctors, police personnel and other relevant witnesses testified during the proceedings.

Referring to the evidence presented before the court, he said the case was supported by confessional statements recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, DNA test results and the postmortem report.

“Considering all the evidence, proving the case was not particularly difficult. We were able to establish the charges and the court delivered justice by awarding the death penalty to the accused,” he said.

Describing the case as a milestone in Bangladesh’s judicial and law enforcement history, Salahuddin said the government remains committed to establishing the rule of law in line with public expectations.

Responding to a question about the time required to execute the death sentence, he said all capital punishment verdicts must undergo mandatory scrutiny by the High Court Division through a death reference hearing.

“Generally, older cases are heard before newer ones, though exceptions have been made in special circumstances,” he said.

“If the death sentence is upheld after the death reference hearing, there will be no delay in carrying out the execution,” he added.