‘I raped her, Dollar killed her’: Sohail claims in court

A Dhaka tribunal on Monday formally framed charges against Sohail Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, in the rape and murder of seven-year-old Ramisa Akter, as the prime accused claimed in court that another man, identified as "Dollar", was responsible for the killing.

The order was issued by Judge Masrur Saleqin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal after hearing both sides. The court also set June 2 for the recording of witness testimonies.

While being taken to court under police escort, prime accused Sohail Rana made fresh claims before journalists, alleging that another person, identified only as "Dollar," was responsible for the killing. He claimed he committed the rape but that the murder was carried out by the other individual. Investigators have not publicly corroborated the allegation.

Police submitted the charge sheet on May 24, accusing Sohail Rana of rape and murder and his wife of assisting in the crime. Prosecutors have listed 18 witnesses in the case.

According to investigators, Ramisa, a second-grade student, went missing from her Pallabi neighborhood on May 19. Her body was later found inside the accused couple's apartment, with police alleging that she had been lured there by Swapna Akter. Sohail Rana was arrested in a subsequent operation in Narayanganj after fleeing the scene.

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Prosecutors said they would seek a swift conclusion to the trial, which has drawn widespread public attention and outrage across Bangladesh.