A Dhaka court is scheduled to hear the defence arguments for Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter in the case of rape and murder of eight-year-old schoolgirl Ramisa Akter on Wednesday.
Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal will hear the plea. Sohel and Swapna were brought to the court on Wednesday morning and kept in the lock-up.
Earlier on Tuesday, the witness deposition phase in the trial was completed. The court heard statements from 16 of 17 state witnesses.
The witnesses included Ramisa's father and plaintiff in the case Abdul Hannan Molla, mother Parveen Akhter, elder sister Raisa Akhter, aunt Mahmuda Akhter, uncle Mizanur Rahman Liton, fourth-floor resident Monir Hossain, neighbour Zakirul Islam Raju, second-floor resident Sheikh Abu Sama, aunt Moniruzzaman Shahin, constable Roma Akhter, constable Sharif Mia, SI Iqbal Hossain, doctor Nasad Jabin, Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid, Sub Inspector Rashedul Islam and investigating officer SI Md Ohiduzzaman.
On May 19, police recovered the body of Ramisa from a flat in Block B of Section 11 in Pallabi. The incident sparked anger nationwide.
