DHAKA, March 20, 2025 (BSS) - A court here today convicted and sentenced a man to death in a case lodged for raping and subsequently murdering his neighbor's 7-year-old daughter over a previous enmity in Matuail area under Jatrabari Police Station in the capital.

The convict is Md Rafikul Islam, 27, son of Abul Kalam of Gopinathpur under Phulchari Police Station of Gaibandha.

Judge Roksana Begum Happy of Women & Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3 of Dhaka pronounced the judgment in presence of the convict and sent him back to jail with conviction warrant. The court also fined him Taka 50,000 or to suffer six months more behind the bars.

According to the case documents, the victim used to live her family at their rented house in Matuail area. She went to the common washroom beside their home at around 6 am on October 1, 2017, and went missing. As her family was searching for her, Rafikul called victim's father and said the child is with him. 

Victim's family along with other neighbors went to Rafikul's house and found the house locked. They broke the lock and found victim's body inside with her hands and legs tried with rope. Victim's father later filed the case with Jatrabari Police Station.

The court on May 15, 2019, framed charges against Rafikul. It came up with the judgment today after examining 12 out of 16 witnesses on different hearing dates.