Maheshkhali Child Mahiya Rape and Murder: Youth Sentenced to Death

A young man has been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of six-year-old Mahiha in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar. The verdict against Md. Soleman (28) was announced on Tuesday (August 26) by the judge of the Cox's Bazar Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal-2, Mohammad Osman Gani.

Soleman was present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. Upon hearing the sentence, he broke down in tears, claiming his innocence. Soleman is the son of the late Sayed Karim from the Chakmarkul area of Whykong Union in Teknaf.

The victim, Mahiha, was the daughter of Mohammad Ataullah from the South Sairardail area of Matarbari Union in Maheshkhali Upazila. She was a first-grade student at South Sairardail Government Primary School.

According to the case details, Mahiha was kidnapped while playing after returning from school on November 30, 2022. She was later raped, murdered, and her body was hidden. Her body was recovered from the Kariyardia area of neighboring Pekua Upazila. The child's father filed a case at the Maheshkhali Police Station on December 3, 2022.

Public prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Titu expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating, "Justice has been served through this judgment. The death penalty for such a brutal crime will deter other criminals from committing similar offenses in the future." He added that the judge had ordered the defendant to be hanged to ensure the execution of the death penalty.

This verdict, announced after a long judicial process, has brought relief to the victim's family and the public.