Court appoints state lawyer for convicted killer in Magura's Asiya rape-murder case

The High Court has appointed a state-funded defence lawyer to represent Hitu Sheikh, who was sentenced to death in the much-discussed rape and murder case of eight-year-old child Asiya in Magura, during the hearing of his death reference and appeal.

A bench, comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja, passed the order on Thursday (August 13).

Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tareq said the previous defence lawyer had informed the court that he would no longer conduct the case and had submitted a no-objection certificate (NOC). Against this backdrop, the High Court bench directed the appointment of lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan as state-appointed counsel for the accused to expedite the hearing.

The 8-year-old child Asiya on March 6 went to visit her elder sister's house in Nijnanduali Mathpara area of Magura Sadar. She was raped there brutally in the early hours of March 6, according to the case statement.

A week later, she died at Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

The brutal incident sparked protests across the country.