Nusrat murder: verdict on 16 death sentences, HC's final decision Monday

The High Court (HC) will announce its verdict on the death reference, appeals and jail appeals against the death sentences of 16 accused in the murder case of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a madrasa student from Sonagazi, Feni, on Monday (August 24).

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice K M Rashedujjaman Raja will deliver the verdict. Hearings on the death reference, appeals and jail appeals in the case had earlier concluded on a priority basis, and the court fixed Monday for the verdict on Thursday (August 20).

The Chief Justice had formed this special bench on June 10 to hear death references and appeals related to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act on a priority basis. The bench began functioning from June 14, and hearings in the Nusrat murder case began on July 28.

Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kajal and Deputy Attorney General Syed Ejaz Kabir argued for the state, while senior lawyers Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, S M Shahjahan, S M Masud Hossain Dolon, Mohammad Shishir Monir and other lawyers argued for the accused.

According to case documents, Siraj Uddowla, then principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, sexually harassed Nusrat after calling her into his office on March 27, 2019. Nusrat's family filed a complaint with the police over the incident.

Despite pressure to withdraw the complaint, Nusrat and her family refused to do so. A few days later, on April 6, Nusrat was called to the madrasa's rooftop, where her hands and feet were tied and she was set on fire after kerosene was poured on her body.

Nusrat, who suffered severe burns, was first admitted to a local hospital and later to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she died on April 10 while undergoing treatment.

Following the incident, Nusrat's elder brother, Mahmudul Hasan Noman, filed a case with Sonagazi police station, which was later converted into a murder case.

In this sensational case, the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered its verdict on October 24, 2019, sentencing 16 accused, including the madrasa's dismissed principal Siraj Uddowla, to death.

The other accused sentenced to death are Ruhul Amin, then president of Sonagazi upazila Awami League; Maksudul Alam, councillor of Sonagazi municipality; madrasa teachers Hafez Abdul Kader and lecturer Afsar Uddin; and madrasa students Nur Uddin, Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Zobayer, Jabed Hossain alias Sakhawat Hossain Jabed, Kamrun Nahar Moni, Umme Sultana Popy alias Tuhin, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Iftekhar Uddin Rana, Imran Hossain Mamun, Mohammad Shamim and Mohi Uddin Shakil.

After the trial court's verdict, the case documents reached the High Court for death reference on October 29, 2019, and were later registered as Death Reference No. 140/19.

The death-sentenced accused also separately filed appeals and jail appeals, which were later taken up for hearing together with the death reference.

Following a prolonged legal process, the hearings concluded on August 20, and Nusrat's family along with others connected to the case are now awaiting the High Court's verdict on Monday.

Whether the High Court upholds the trial court's death sentences for the 16 convicts, or changes the sentences or issues some other decision, will be known on Monday.