BANGLADESH: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY OF TWO FOR THE RAPE AND MURDER OF A CHILD

The Supreme Court on 21 September 2021 upheld the death sentence of two persons convicted for the abduction, rape and murder of Tania, a child from Patuakhali, more than nine years after the High Court approved their punishment.
A five-judge virtual appellate bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain dismissed the appeal of the convicts and passed the order.
The two convicted in the case are Nur Alam Hawladar alias Pachu alias Sumon alias Nurul Alam, son of Khorshed Hawladar of Gachyani in Dashmina, and Md Miraj Khalifa, son of Md Abu Taher Khalifa.
Another convict, Zafar Gazi, has already died.
On 20 September 2005, the three accused abducted Tania, a child of Dashmina police station in Patuakhali district. Later they raped and killed her.
During the investigation of the case, they gave confessional statements. Following the trial, a judge of the Barisal Speedy Trial Tribunal on 27 April 2008 sentenced the three accused to death.
As per the rules, the documents were sent to the High Court for approval of the death sentence. Besides, the accused appealed. 
Following the hearing of the death reference and the appeal, on 29 February 2012, the High Court approved the death sentence. The convicts later appealed to the Appellate Division but after the hearing on 21 September, the appeal was dismissed.