Magura, May 17 (V7N)- The court has sentenced the main accused Hitu Sheikh (the sister's father-in-law) to death in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Asia who came to visit her sister's house in Magura. The trial of the case, which was discussed in 12 working days after continuous hearings, excluding holidays, concluded.

Judge M Zahid Hasan announced the verdict at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Magura on Saturday (May 17) morning.

Hitu Sheikh's wife Zaheda Begum and children Sajeeb Sheikh and Ratul Sheikh were acquitted in the verdict.

Earlier, the police filed a chargesheet in the discussed case on April 13. The trial began on April 23 with the framing of charges. The taking of testimony began on April 27.

State lawyers say that the crime against the accused has been proven in the confessional statement of the accused under Section 164, medical evidence and the statements of witnesses.

On March 6, eight-year-old Achiya was raped while visiting her sister's in-laws' house in Nijnanduali village of Magura town. She was first taken to hospitals in Magura and Faridpur in critical condition.

When her condition deteriorated, she was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later to Dhaka Combined Military Hospital. She died while undergoing treatment on March 13. The incident sparked outrage across the country.

END/MSS/AJ