HC accepts convicts' jail appeals for hearing

The High Court (HC) on Sunday accepted for hearing the jail appeals filed by the two death-row convicts - Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter - in the case filed over the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter, reports UNB.

The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Ali and Justice Md Saifullah Islam passed the order.

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal argued for the state during the hearing.

On June 7, the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal sentenced Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter to death for the rape and murder of Ramisa Akter.

Besides, Sohel Rana was fined Tk 5,00,000 and Swapna Akter Tk 2,00,000 under Section 9(2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The court ordered that the fines be paid to the legal heirs of the victim.

On June 9, the death reference (approval of the death sentence) was sent to the High Court.