Death reference in Magura child rape, murder case reaches HC

The death reference in the case lodged over the rape and subsequently murder of an eight-year-old girl in Magura has reached the High Court (HC) for its approval.

Appellate Division spokesperson Md Shafikul Islam said the documents have reached the apex court and will be forwarded to the death reference wing of the High Court.

Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on May 17 convicted and sentenced prime accused Hitu Sheikh, father-in-law of the elder sister of the victim, to death in the case. It, however, acquitted three others of the charges.

Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal pronounced the judgment in presence of the accused.

As per the case details, on March 6, the child was visiting her elder sister's in-laws' house where she was raped. She was initially taken to Magura Sadar Hospital in critical condition and was later transferred to the capital's Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where she died on March 13.

Following the incident, the victim's mother had filed the case with Magura Sadar Police Station on March 8 under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

After investigation, police submitted the charge-sheet against four individuals on April 13. The court on April 23 framed charges against the four accused including Hitu Sheikh.