Asiya Rape Case: Hitu Sheikh sentenced to death

A Magura tribunal has sentenced Hitu Sheikh, the prime accused, to death in the case filed over the rape and murder of eight-year-old Asiya.

Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Magura delivered the verdict on Saturday.

In the same verdict, Hitu Sheikh’s wife Zaheda Begum and sons Sajib Sheikh and Ratul Sheikh were acquitted of all charges as allegations brought against them could not be proven.

Earlier, on 13 April, police submitted the charge sheet in the widely discussed case. The trial formally began on 23 April following charge framing, and witness testimonies started on 27 April.

A total of 29 witnesses testified for the prosecution. Excluding weekends and holidays, the trial was completed in just 12 working days.

Prosecutors said that the accused's confessional statement under Section 164, along with medical evidence and witness testimonies, proved the charges beyond doubt.

According to the case documents, on 6 March, Asiya went to visit her sister’s in-laws’ house in the Nijnanduali area of Magura town, where she was raped by Hitu Sheikh, her sister’s father-in-law.

She was initially treated at hospitals in Magura and Faridpur. As her condition deteriorated, she was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, where she died on 13 March.

The incident sparked widespread outrage across the country.

On 8 March, Asiya’s mother filed a case with Magura Sadar Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, accusing Hitu, Jaheda, Sajib and Ratul.