A court in Magura has recorded testimony from 10 witnesses in the case of 8-year-old Asiya, who was raped and murdered. 

The testimonies were recorded on Tuesday (April 29) morning.

The witnesses who testified include Rabiul Islam Nayan, secretary of Dhaka South BNP; Ashiya's sister; Saiful Sheikh; Jobeda; Johra; Shihab Sheikh, a neighbor of Hitu; Jamal Molla, an attendant at Madinatul cemetery madrasa; Asaduzzaman Nabin, a sanitation worker at Magura Sadar police station; and Assistant Sub-Inspector Emadul Haq and Ramjan Ali of Magura Sadar police station.

With these testimonies, a total of 16 witnesses have now provided evidence in the case, out of the 37 scheduled to testify.

The main accused, Hitu Sheikh, along with his two sons Sajib Sheikh (Asiya's brother-in-law) and Ratul Sheikh, and Hitu's wife Jaheda Begum, were brought to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal under heavy security. 

Judge M. Zahid Hasan set Wednesday (April 30) as the next date for the case after hearing the testimonies.

During the court proceedings, the main accused Hitu Sheikh claimed, "We are not guilty. Asiya was healthy when we were at home. When we left home for work, we received the news around 11 AM. We are not criminals. If we have committed any crime, we will accept whatever punishment there is."

Hitu Sheikh's younger son Ratul Sheikh told journalists before entering the court, "On the day of the incident, Asiya woke me up around 8 AM. She asked, 'Brother, aren't you going to work?' I told her I would. Then she asked me to take her home after work. I saw Asiya in good health around 8 AM. I don't know how she became ill later. We haven't done anything wrong."

According to case details, the child was raped on March 5 when she was visiting her sister's house in the Nijnanduyali area of the city during Ramadan holidays. Hitu Sheikh, her sister's father-in-law, not only raped the child but also attempted to murder her. The girl's mother filed a case naming Hitu Sheikh as the main accused.

After the incident, the child was first taken to Magura 250-bed Sadar Hospital, then transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated, and finally to Dhaka. She died on March 13 while undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.

In the police charge sheet submitted to the court, Hitu Sheikh has been named as the main accused in the rape and murder. Additionally, the child's brother-in-law Sajib Sheikh and his brother Ratul Sheikh have been charged with intimidation, while her sister's mother-in-law Jaheda Begum has been accused of concealing information.

MSK/