High Court Sentences Two to Death Penalty in Nusrat Murder Case

The High Court on Monday delivered its verdict in the murder case of Nusrat Jahan Rafi with confirming the death penalty for two convicts and acquitting 10 others.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raza pronounced the judgment.

Among those whose death sentences were upheld is Siraj Uddaula, the former principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa in Feni. Four other accused received reduced sentences.

The ruling modifies a 2019 verdict by the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal which had initially sentenced all 16 accused to death.

According to court records, Siraj Uddaula sexually harassed Nusrat inside his office on March 27, 2019 leading to his arrest after she filed a complaint. On April 6, 2019 perpetrators lured Nusrat to the madrasa roof with tied her up and set her on fire with kerosene to force her to withdraw the charges.

Nusrat succumbed to her severe burn injuries on April 10 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Her elder brother Mahmudul Hasan Noman and filed the case with Sonagazi Police Station which was later converted into a murder trial following her death.

Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kajol and Deputy Attorney General Syed Ijaz Kabir represented the state during the hearing while Advocate SM Shahjahan, Barrister Masud Hossain Dolon and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared for the defense.