United News of Bangladesh

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said the trial in the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in Pallabi, Dhaka, could be completed within five to seven days. “This is actually degradation of social values. We need social reform based on our cultural and religious values. Some negative influences and distorted cultural practices are affecting society,” he said at a dialogue organised by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat. Referring to a series of recent violence against girls including an incident at Kalabagan, the minister said such crimes reflect a broader social and moral decline. Noting that the government’s primary responsibility is to ensure swift legal action and justice, the minister said, “Our main focus is to ensure the arrest of accused in such incidents in the shortest possible time. In the last three months, we have succeeded in every such case,” he said, adding that no one involved in such heinous crimes would be spared. He also said that the accused in the Ramisa case was arrested within seven hours of the incident and later he gave a confessional statement under Section 164 before a court within a day. Based on that statement, his alleged accomplice, his wife, was also arrested, said the minister. The DNA test was completed within three days after obtaining court approval, while the post-mortem report has already been received, he said. “All documents have been compiled, and the charge sheet was finalised last night,” he said. He also said a special public prosecutor has been appointed to handle the case. The Chief Justice is reportedly considering cancelling court vacation for the special tribunal, while the Law Ministry is handling the matter, he added. Ramisa Akter, daughter of Abdul Hannan Molla, was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, tenant of a neighbouring flat, on Tuesday. According to the case details, the suspect reportedly lured her into his room and later killed her after rape. Later, Ramisa’s decapitated body was found beneath the bed while her severed head was found hidden inside a bucket in the bathroom. The dialogue was chaired by BSRF President Masudul Haque. Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed was present at the event, while General Secretary Ubaidullah Badal conducted the programme.