Nusrat murder case: HC upholds two death sentences, four to life and acquits 10

The High Court has upheld the death sentences of former madrasa principal SM Siraj Ud Daula and Shahadat Hossain in the widely publicised murder case of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi in Feni.

The court also sentenced four other convicts to life imprisonment and acquitted 10 others.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict on Monday (August 24), disposing of the death references, appeals and jail appeals filed in the case.

Advocates SM Shahjahan, Barrister Masud Hossain Dolon and Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared for the accused, while Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Deputy Attorney General Syed Ejaz Kabir represented the state.

The High Court completed hearings on the death references, appeals and jail appeals on August 20. The state had earlier opened the proceedings by presenting the case paperbook.

According to the case records, Siraj Ud Daula, then principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasa, allegedly sexually harassed Nusrat in his office on March 27, 2019. After her family filed a case, Siraj was arrested.

When Nusrat refused to withdraw the case, a plot was allegedly hatched to kill her.

On April 6, 2019, Nusrat was taken to the madrasa rooftop, where her hands and legs were tied before kerosene was poured over her body and set alight.

She suffered severe burns and was taken to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. She died on April 10 while undergoing treatment.

Nusrat’s elder brother, Mahmudul Hasan Noman, filed a case with Sonagazi Police Station. The case was subsequently turned into a murder case.

On October 24, 2019, Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Mohammad Mamunur Rashid sentenced all 16 accused to death and fined each Tk1 lakh.

The condemned convicts included Siraj Ud Daula, former Sonagazi upazila Awami League president Ruhul Amin, students Nur Uddin and Shahadat Hossain, councillor Maksud Alam, teachers Hafiz Abdul Qader and Absar Uddin, and several of Nusrat’s classmates and associates.

The High Court’s latest verdict changes the punishment of several of the accused, while retaining the death sentences against Siraj and Shahadat.