A Dhaka court sentenced Sohel Rana and Swapnaa Khatun to death on June 7, 2026, for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl after five days of hearings.
Day-end roundups placed the episode within broader coverage on June 7, 2026, reflecting the circumstances described in first accounts from the field.
Judge Masrur Salekin imposed fines of Taka 5 lakh and Taka 2 lakh payable to the victim’s family; the verdict came 19 days after the May 19 killing in Pallabi.
Under Bangladeshi law, trial court death sentences require High Court confirmation before execution.
Police recovered the child’s dismembered body from the couple’s apartment on May 19; Rana was detained later that day in Fatullah.
Prosecutors said no private lawyer agreed to represent the accused, so the court appointed state counsel who sought life sentences instead of death.
Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal said his office would seek an expeditious High Court review once trial records were transmitted.
Legal representatives for the accused may file additional motions as evidence is entered on the record.
Prosecutors emphasized that charges described in initial filings remain subject to trial proceedings.
Forensic teams continued cataloguing material seized during searches authorized by magistrates.
Victims or their families may pursue civil remedies parallel to criminal prosecution where statutes allow.
Bail applications, if any, will be heard on schedules posted by the relevant trial courts.
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Sources:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/couple-sentenced-to-death-for-rape-and-murder-of-girl-in-bangladeshs-fastest-trial/article71073976.ece