Sensational Child Rape Case in Magura: Accused Hitu Sheikh Confesses Under Section 164

Magura, March 15 – Hitu Sheikh, the accused in the rape of a minor girl named Ashiya, has confessed to his crime under Section 164 before a magistrate.

On Saturday afternoon (March 15) at around 4:30 PM, the accused appeared before Senior Judicial Magistrate Sabyasachi Roy’s court in Magura and gave his confessional statement.

Earlier, on Thursday evening (March 13) at 7 PM, the first janaza (funeral prayer) of the victim, 8-year-old Ashiya, was held at Nomani Maidan in Magura town. Later, her body was taken to her ancestral home, where a second janaza took place. After Isha prayers, she was buried in Sonaikundi, Shripur.

Public Outrage Leads to Arson
Shortly after the burial, an angry mob set fire to the house of the accused. Around 7:45 PM, the house was set ablaze.

The child had succumbed to her injuries earlier that day while undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) confirmed the news in a press release.

Background of the Case

• On Monday (Ma rch 10), a Magura court granted 7-day remand for the prime accused, Hitu Sheikh, in the rape case of the 8-year-old girl. Three other accused were each given 5-day remand.

• The incident occurred on March 5, when the victim went to visit her sister’s house. She was allegedly raped by her sister’s father-in-law.

• After the assault, the girl fell critically ill. Her sister claimed that despite her worsening condition, the family locked her inside a room and continued torturing her instead of taking her to a hospital.

• The crime came to light the next morning (March 6) when a neighbor entered the house and discovered the girl in a dire state. She was rushed to Magura Sadar Hospital, where doctors found signs of sexual assault.

• Initially, the sister’s mother-in-law told doctors that the child was "possessed by a jinn," but medical examinations confirmed rape. Upon realizing this, the sister’s mother-in-law fled the hospital.

• The girl was later shifted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). After two days on life support, she was moved to CMH, where she died on March 13.