A new name has surfaced in the Ramisa rape and murder case, with prime accused Sohel Rana telling reporters today that a man called "Dollar" was responsible for the rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl.
However, no further details about the person were immediately available.
Sohel made the claim while being escorted to the courtroom of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal.
"I am at fault, and Dollar is also at fault. I am not the only culprit," he told reporters.
Standing in the courtroom's dock, he shouted at the lawyers present in the courtroom after the hearing, and said, “I did not commit the rape; I only dismembered the body. A man named Dollar committed the rape. I have sinned, so punish me for that sin.”
At that time, Sohel further claimed that Dollar had promised to pay him Tk 2 lakh if he could bring the girl to him.
However, police officers present immediately stopped him from speaking further.
Sohel also claimed that his wife, Swapna Khatun, was innocent.
Earlier in the day, Sohel and Swapna were brought to the lock-up of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in Dhaka.
Later, Judge Masrur Salekin of the tribunal framed charges against the couple in the case over the rape and murder of Ramisa in Dhaka's Pallabi area.
Both accused pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out, said Bench Assistant Pankoj Peter Gomes.
The judge also fixed tomorrow for the start of the trial, with the victim's father, Abdul Hannan Mollah, scheduled to testify first, he added.
On May 24, Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka, accusing Sohel of rape, murder and destruction of evidence, and Swapna of destruction of evidence and providing false information.
Several hours later, the CMM Court transferred the case to the Children Violence Suppression Tribunal for trial.
Ramisa, a second-grade student of Popular Model High School, was found beheaded on May 19 in the house of her neighbour, Sohel.
The following day, Ramisa's father filed a case with Pallabi Police Station, accusing the couple and an unidentified person.
According to the case statement, Sohel lured Ramisa into his room and raped her. Investigators said he later slit her throat and attempted to dismember the body to conceal the crime.
On May 20, police produced Sohel and Swapna before a Dhaka court, and court sources said Sohel agreed to give a confessional statement before a magistrate. The third and unidentified accused was on the run. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid recorded Sohel's confessional statement after police brought him to the magistrate’s chamber, said a court staff member.
Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station told The Daily Star that day, the prime accused had already admitted to the crime during primary interrogation.
On May 22, the Dhaka Bar Association decided not to provide legal assistance to the accused following an emergency virtual meeting of its executive committee, citing the gravity of the allegations.
The next day, the government appointed Supreme Court lawyer Musa Kalimullah as a state defence counsel to represent the accused to ensure a fair trial.
This report has been corrected at 4:43pm. In the earlier version, Sohel Rana’s comment was misreported. We regret the error.
Comments
Facts Only
* Sohel Rana claimed a man named "Dollar" committed the rape and murder of Ramisa.
* Sohel stated, "I am at fault, and Dollar is also at fault. I am not the only culprit."
* Sohel alleged that Dollar promised him Tk 2 lakh if he brought Ramisa to him.
* Sohel claimed his wife, Swapna Khatun, was innocent.
* Judge Masrur Salekin framed charges against Sohel Rana and Swapna Khatun for the rape and murder of Ramisa.
* The case involved Ramisa, a second-grade student, found beheaded on May 19 in Sohel's house.
* Police investigation alleged Sohel lured Ramisa into his room, raped her, slit her throat, and attempted to dismember the body.
* Sohel provided a confessional statement recorded by Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid.
* Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman submitted a charge sheet accusing Sohel of rape, murder, and destruction of evidence.
* The CMM Court transferred the case to the Children Violence Suppression Tribunal.
* The trial was scheduled to begin with the testimony of Ramisa's father, Abdul Hannan Mollah.
Executive Summary
Full Take
This narrative structure centers on competing claims of responsibility within a highly charged criminal context. The inclusion of Sohel Rana's specific, aggressive admission ("I only dismembered the body. A man named Dollar committed the rape") functions as an attempt to manage culpability by externalizing the primary act of sexual violence and murder while maintaining legal accountability for other acts. This reflects a common pattern in high-profile cases where perpetrators construct elaborate narratives of dual guilt to manipulate public and judicial perception, attempting to shift focus from direct physical action to perceived systemic failure or external interference (Dollar).
The media framing explicitly juxtaposes the accused's claims of fault with the state’s established charges and investigative findings. The immediate transfer of the case to a specialized tribunal suggests an acknowledgement that the matter involves complex dynamics of child violence, yet Sohel Rana’s testimony introduces a layer of ambiguity regarding actual agency and responsibility. This pattern utilizes emotional exploitation by presenting raw admissions alongside official documentation, forcing the audience to reconcile self-serving narratives with procedural facts.
The implications hinge on recognizing that justice systems often operate under the weight of established evidence versus testimonial claims. The conflict between the confessed act (dismemberment) and the alleged primary perpetrator ("Dollar") raises questions about the efficacy of legal mechanisms in establishing complex chains of events, particularly when conflicting personal accounts are introduced during proceedings. What responsibility does the system bear when navigating competing claims of guilt that appear designed to evade singular accountability?
Sentinel — Human
The text exhibits the structure and detail typical of human investigative journalism, focusing on legal events, with minimal stylistic markers suggesting machine generation.