Identity of 'Dollar' Revealed in Ramisa Murder Case

A fresh wave of public discussion has erupted around a man named "Dollar," whose identity was recently uncovered following repeated allegations by the prime accused in the brutal rape and murder of child Ramisa Akter in the capital's Pallabi area. While the main suspect, Sohel Rana, has consistently named Dollar as the mastermind behind the horrific crime, law enforcement officials have revealed that rigorous digital forensics, witness testimonies, and analytical evidence have so far shown absolutely no link between Dollar and the homicide.

According to local and investigative sources, Dollar resides in Pallabi, just a few houses away from the residence where Ramisa was assaulted and killed. Local residents described Dollar as an auto-rickshaw driver struggling with severe drug addiction. The prime accused, Sohel Rana, previously worked as a mechanic in a nearby rickshaw garage, which is how the two initially became acquainted.

While Dollar lives under impoverished personal conditions, his family is relatively well-off and owns real estate in the area. Sources noted that he drives an auto-rickshaw primarily to fund his narcotics addiction. He is the youngest among five brothers and two sisters.

Speaking to the media, Dollar's eldest brother, Selim Raihan, stated that the family severed all ties with Dollar nearly 19 years ago due to his erratic lifestyle and drug dependency. Raihan emphasized that the family has long avoided him, adding that if Dollar’s involvement in the child's murder is ever proven through legal channels, he should face the absolute maximum punishment under the law.

The renewed focus on Dollar intensified on Monday when the prime accused, Sohel Rana, made a dramatic claim to journalists on court premises. Rana asserted that it was Dollar who raped and murdered Ramisa, claiming he was merely hired to dispose of the body in exchange for a promised payment of BDT 2 lakh.

However, the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case, Pallabi Police Station Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman Bhuiyan, explicitly debunked these claims. The IO stated that although investigators proactively chased leads regarding Dollar during the active probe, no tangible proof was found. Furthermore, comprehensive digital and cellular tracking showed no presence or involvement of Dollar in connection to the crime scene, leading to the exclusion of his name from the final charge sheet.

Meanwhile, the formal judicial trial against Sohel Rana and his wife, Swapna Akter, is scheduled to commence today, Tuesday, with the recording of witness testimonies. On Monday morning, Rana and his wife were produced before the court under tight security.

The procedural hearing took place at the Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children, presided over by Judge Masroor Salekin. During the session, Special Public Prosecutor (PP) Azizur Rahman Dulu presented the formal arguments for framing charges, detailing the agonizing sequence of Ramisa's murder before the bench.

The case dates back to May 19, when the Pallabi Police recovered the lifeless body of young Ramisa Akter from a local residence, sparking a massive nationwide outcry and demands for swift justice. The primary suspect, Sohel Rana, was tracked down and arrested by police the following day in Narayanganj. Rana later recorded a formal confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a magistrate, after which he was remanded to jail.