'I Want Hitu to feel the agony of death that my daughter felt', says Achiya's mother
Ayesha Khatun, slain Achya's mother. Photo: Agamir Somoy.
The mother of Achiya, the child of Magura who was raped and murdered, is satisfied that the High Court has upheld the death sentence for the perpetrator, Hitu Sheikh. Upon hearing the verdict, she said justice has been served.
Ayesha Khatun said, "Through this verdict, the High Court has affirmed our right to seek justice. I want this sentence to be executed swiftly. Let Hitu Sheikh be hanged. May Hitu also feel the death agony that my daughter endured."
Today, Monday afternoon, the High Court bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice K.M. Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict, upholding Hitu Sheikh's death sentence.
Achiya's mother said, "The day this verdict is fully implemented, we will express our satisfaction. My daughter was raped and then murdered. Even if Hitu Sheikh is hanged 100 times, our pain will not diminish."
Achiya's mother has also alleged that Hitu Sheikh's sons are roaming around the area. She is concerned about the safety of her family because of this.
In this high-profile case, the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered its verdict on May 17 last year. In that ruling, the main accused, Hitu Sheikh (47), was sentenced to death. He was also fined one lakh taka.
The trial court's verdict acquitted the other three accused. They are the deceased child's brother-in-law, Sajib Sheikh, his brother Ratul Sheikh, and their mother, Zaheda Begum.
Following the trial court's verdict, the case came to the High Court for confirmation of the death sentence (Death Reference). The convicted accused also filed an appeal.
In the High Court, the accused was represented by government-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan. The state was represented by Attorney General Barrister Md. Ruhul Quddus Kajal and Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek.
Achiya's home is in Sripur, Magura. In early March of last year, she had gone to visit her sister's in-laws' house in Magura town. It was there that the child was raped.
On March 6 of that year, her sister's mother-in-law took her to Magura 250-bed Hospital in an unconscious state. Subsequently, she was taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and finally to Dhaka CMH, where she died on March 13.
Two days later, on March 8, Achiya's mother filed a case against four people. The police also arrested them. At that time, agitated locals vandalized the accused's homes. Various organizations across the country held different programs demanding justice.
Within a month, on April 13 last year, the investigating officer submitted the charge sheet to the Magura Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. Subsequently, the trial began on April 23. Two months later, on May 17, Judge M. Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered the verdict.
The case documents reached the High Court on May 21 last year. After all reviews, they were sent to BG Press for the preparation of the paper book. After preparation, the paper book was sent to the High Court on June 8. The case was then listed before a specialized bench for hearings.
