The High Court is set to deliver its verdict today on the death reference and appeal filed by Hitu Sheikh in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Asia in Magura.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja is scheduled to pronounce the verdict on Monday (August 31).
The court had initially fixed August 25 for the verdict but later deferred it. The hearing on the death reference and appeal concluded on August 24.
State-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan is representing Hitu Sheikh, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek is appearing for the state.
The incident took place on March 5 last year in Nijnanduali area of Magura Sadar upazila, where Asia had gone to visit her sister's house during the Ramadan holidays. Hitu Sheikh, her sister's father-in-law, raped the child and attempted to kill her.
The eight-year-old died while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. Her mother later filed a case against Hitu Sheikh and three others. Police subsequently arrested all four accused.
Police submitted the charge sheet on April 13, 2025, and the trial began on April 23 following the framing of charges. A total of 29 prosecution witnesses testified in the case.
The trial proceedings were completed in just 13 working days. On May 17 last year, the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced Hitu Sheikh, 47, to death and fined him Tk 100,000.
The court acquitted the other three accused—Sajib Sheikh, 19, his younger brother, 17, and Sajib's mother Zaheda Begum, 40.
As required under the Code of Criminal Procedure, the trial court sent the case records to the High Court on May 21 last year for approval of the death sentence. The records were later sent to the Bangladesh Government Press for preparation of the paperbook, which was submitted to the High Court on June 8.
