Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday vowed to ensure the highest punishment within the next one month for the killer of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter, who was allegedly raped and murdered in the capital.

“The government will ensure the highest punishment for Ramisa’s killer within the next one month, InshaAllah. That highest punishment is the death penalty,” he said.

The Prime Minister made the announcement while inaugurating the three-day national programme marking the 127th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in Trishal upazila.

Referring to the maximum punishment, Tarique Rahman said it will serve as a warning so that no one dares to commit such violence against children or women in future.

“I want to make it clear before you all that the present government will in no way tolerate such abuse of children or violence against women,” he said.

The Prime Minister said one of the greatest damages caused during the period of the ousted fascist regime was the severe destruction of humanity, compassion, and the country’s long-standing religious and social values.

“The brutal killing of an innocent girl in Mirpur has exposed the extreme moral decay in society,” he said, referring to the murder of Ramisa in Dhaka’s Pallabi area.

Tarique Rahman also stressed the need to establish the rule of law and bring change to the political culture to build a safe and humane society.

“At the same time, we have to revive the country’s long-standing religious, social and cultural values in national life. In this regard, the life and works of Kazi Nazrul Islam remain highly relevant,” he said.

Later, Tarique formally inaugurated the three-day event at the Nazrul Mancha on the grounds of Darirampur Nazrul Academy in Trishal. The programme also includes a Nazrul book fair and rural fair.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, State Minister for Jute and Textiles Shariful Alam, Cultural Affairs Secretary Kaniz Moula, Mymensingh Zila Parishad Administrator Syed Emran Saleh Prince, Executive Director of Kabi Nazrul Institute Latiful Islam Shibli, chairperson of the institute’s trustee board and the poet’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi, Dhaka University Bangla Department teacher Prof Tariq Manzoor, Mymensingh-7 lawmaker Mahbubur Rahman Liton and Deputy Commissioner Saifur Rahman, among others, spoke at the programme, with Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury in the chair

Ramisa, a second-grade student of Mirpur Popular Model School, was raped and killed allegedly by a tenant living in a neighbouring flat in Pallabi on Tuesday last.

Police said the suspect, Sohel Rana, lured the child into his room after she left her flat in the morning. He then allegedly raped and killed her

On Thursday night, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Ramisa’s residence in Pallabi, met her grieving parents and elder sister, and assured them of prompt justice and government support.

After the visit, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters that police would submit the charge sheet in the murder case to the court by Sunday afternoon.

The minister had said also said the government would try to ensure speedy completion of the trial process and secure the highest punishment for the accused.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Saturday handed over the DNA test report to the investigating officer in the case filed over the rape and murder of Ramisa.