The High Court on Monday upheld the death sentence of Hitu Sheikh for raping and subsequently murdering an eight-year-old girl in Magura in March in 2025.
A bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict after accepting the death reference in the case and rejecting his appeal against the sentence.
The Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on May 17 sentenced Hitu Sheikh to death for the rape and murder of the girl. The tribunal acquitted three other accused in the case.
According to the prosecution, the girl was raped on March 6, 2025, while she was visiting the house of her elder sister.
Hitu Sheikh, the prime accused, was the father-in-law of the girl’s elder sister, the prosecution said.
The rape and death of the eight-year-old girl shocked the entire nation during the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus which assumed office following 2024 July mass uprising which ousted Awami League government ruled for 15 years.
The tribunal subsequently convicted Hitu Sheikh and sentenced him to death, while acquitting the three other accused for lack of evidence.
The case then came before the High Court as a death reference for confirmation of the capital punishment.
