Verdict Delayed in High-Profile Magura Child Rape-Murder Case

The High Court has postponed the verdict on the death reference and appeal in the rape and murder case involving an eight-year-old girl in Magura. The court has fixed August 31 for delivering its verdict.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja set the new date on Tuesday (August 25) following a time petition filed by the state.

State-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan represented the accused, Hitu Sheikh, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek appeared for the state.

The child was raped and seriously assaulted on the night of March 5, 2025, when she was visiting her sister’s home in the Nijnanduali area of Magura town. Hitu Sheikh, the father-in-law of the victim’s sister, was accused of raping the child and attempting to kill her.

The eight-year-old girl was later taken to Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for treatment, where she died from her injuries.

Following the incident, the victim’s mother filed a case against four people, including Hitu Sheikh. Police subsequently arrested all four accused.

On May 17, 2025, Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced Hitu Sheikh to death in the child rape and murder case. He was also fined Tk 100,000.

The court acquitted the other three accused: Sajib Sheikh, the husband of the victim’s sister; Sajib’s younger brother Ratul Sheikh; and Sajib’s mother Zaheda Begum.

Under Bangladesh’s Code of Criminal Procedure, any death sentence handed down by a trial court must be sent to the High Court for confirmation. The case records reached the High Court on May 21 last year, followed by the case paperbook on June 8.

The case was subsequently placed on the cause list of a specialised High Court bench for hearing.