Dhaka, April 23 -- A tribunal has indicted four individuals accused of the "rape and murder" of an 8-year-old in Magura, paving the way for the start of trial proceedings in the much-discussed case.

Judge M Zahdi Hasan framed charges against four suspects after they were presented at the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on Wednesday morning.

The judge fixed the next hearing in the case for Apr 27.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Monirul Islam Mukul and other lawyers were present during the hearing.

Around 10am, the accused -- the father-in-law of the child's sister Hitu Sheikh, brother-in-law Sojib Sheikh, his brother Ratul Sheikh, and their mother Rokeya Begum -- were brought to the court.

Considering the case to be o...