Court Correspondent :
A Dhaka court on Thursday sentenced one person to death in a case filed for the murder of Suraiya Akhter Risha, 14, a class VIII student of Willes Little Flower School.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Kayes announced the verdict in the presence of the lone accused Obaidul Haq.
Obaidul has also been fined Tk 50,000 in the case.
Risha’s mother Tania Hossain was present in the court when the verdict was announced.
She broke out into tears on the court premises after hearing the death sentence of the accused.
“I am happy with the verdict,” Tania said, adding, “The death sentence should be executed quickly.”
Students of Willes Little Flower School and College, its Principal Abul Hossain and governing body Chairman Arefur Rahman Titu, were present in the court to hear the verdict. They too expressed satisfaction with the verdict and demanded immediate execution of Obaidul Haq. Prior to announce the verdict, Obaidul was brought into the court from Kashimpur jail.
Fourteen-year-old Risha was stabbed to death on a footbridge close to her school in Kakrail by her stalker Obaidul in 2016.
Risha lost her battle for life at the ICU of Dhaka Medical College Hospital on August 28, 2016, four days after she was stabbed.
Her mother Tania Hossain filed a case against Obaidul with Ramna Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
The death of Risha, eldest child of Ramzan Hossain and Tania Hossain, sparked protests across the capital.
Obaidul was arrested in Nilphamari with locals’ help a week after Risha was stabbed. Hailing from Dinajpur’s Miradangi village, he used to work at a tailoring shop in Dhaka.
On November 14, 2016, Ali Hossain, Inspector of Ramna Police Station, submitted the charge sheet against Obaidul while charge was framed on April 17, 2017.
