The High Court has deferred its verdict on the death reference and appeal in the widely discussed case involving the rape and murder of an eight-year-old child in Magura.

The court has fixed 31 August for delivering its verdict, following a time petition filed by the state on Tuesday (25 August).

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja set the new date after hearing the state’s plea.

The court had initially fixed Tuesday for the verdict after concluding hearings from both sides on Monday (24 August).

However, the ruling was not delivered as scheduled after the state sought additional time.

Hitu Sheikh is the prime accused in the case involving the rape and murder of the child, which drew widespread attention in Bangladesh.

According to the case documents and court sources, the eight-year-old girl was raped on the night of 5 March last year while visiting her sister’s house in Nijnanduali area of Magura town. Her sister’s father-in-law, Hitu Sheikh, was accused of raping her and subsequently attempting to kill her.

The child was later admitted to hospital in critical condition. She died while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.

Her mother subsequently filed a case against Hitu Sheikh and three others. Police later arrested all four accused.

Police submitted the charge sheet on 13 April 2025, and the trial began with the framing of charges on 23 April. Recording of witness statements began on 27 April, with 29 prosecution witnesses testifying in the case.

The recording of evidence concluded on 7 May, bringing the trial proceedings to an end in just 13 working days. Arguments were concluded on 13 May before Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. The tribunal delivered its verdict on 17 May.

The tribunal sentenced Hitu Sheikh, 47, to death for the rape and murder of the child and fined him Tk100,000.