The High Court is set to deliver its verdict Monday, on the death reference, appeals, and jail appeals of convicts sentenced to death in the murder case of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.
On 20 August, a High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja fixed the date after concluding the hearings.
The first day of the hearing was held on 28 July. The High Court will simultaneously review the death reference concerning the approval of the death sentences of the 16 convicts, as well as the appeals and jail appeals filed by the condemned convicts.
Deputy Attorney General Syed Ejaz Kabir and Imam Hossain Tareq represented the state during the hearings, while SM Shahjahan and Mohammad Shishir Monir stood for the defence.
Lower court verdict
On 24 October 2019, the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered the verdict in the case, sentencing all 16 accused to death.
The condemned convicts are:
- Siraj Ud-Doula, the suspended principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa;
- Ruhul Amin, the then president of Sonagazi Upazila Awami League;
- Maksudul Alam, Sonagazi municipal councillor;
- Hafez Abdul Kader, a teacher at the madrasa;
- Afsar Uddin, a lecturer;
- Nur Uddin, a student;
- Shahadat Hossain Shamim, a student;
- Saifur Rahman Mohammad Jobayer, a student;
- Javed Hossain alias Sakhawat Hossain Javed, a student;
- Kamrun Nahar Moni;
- Umme Sultana Poppy alias Tuhin;
- Abdur Rahim Sharif;
- Iftekhar Uddin Rana;
- Imran Hossain Mamun;
- Mohammad Shamim; and
- Mohi Uddin Shakil.
On 29 October of the same year, the lower court records were sent to the High Court for the approval of the death sentences, a legal process known as a death reference. Subsequently, the condemned convicts filed appeals and jail appeals.
The paper book containing the necessary documents for judicial proceedings was printed on a priority basis. Following the completion of formalities, the case was presented to the Chief Justice, who assigned the current High Court bench to conduct the hearing.
The allegations
According to the case documents, Nusrat Jahan Rafi, an Alim examinee at Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa in Feni, was called to the office of Madrasa Principal Siraj Ud-Doula on 26 March 2019, where she was reportedly molested.
The following day, 27 March, Nusrat’s mother, Shirin Akhter, filed a case against Principal Siraj Ud-Doula at Sonagazi Model Police Station. The police arrested the principal on the same day.
However, the case was not withdrawn. The charge sheet states that the principal’s loyalists became furious after his arrest in the molestation case.
On 6 April, Nusrat was called to the roof of the madrasa’s administrative building. According to the charges, five burqa-clad miscreants tied her hands and feet, poured kerosene over her body, and set her on fire.
Nusrat passed away on 10 April while undergoing treatment at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
From attempted murder to murder case
Following the arson incident, Nusrat’s brother, Mahmudul Hasan Noman, filed an attempted murder case at Sonagazi Police Station, naming eight individuals and accusing several unidentified persons.
The charge was subsequently converted into a murder case following Nusrat’s death.
Upon completing the investigation, the police submitted a charge sheet against 16 individuals, adding eight more suspects to the eight named in the initial complaint.
Out of the 16 accused, 12 subsequently gave confessional statements before the court, admitting their involvement in the killing.
