Members of the Ex-Forces Association – a platform of retired military and paramilitary personnel – have demanded that the hearing on the death reference for confirmation of death sentences and appeals of the accused in the sensational major (retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan murder case be concluded within the next month.
The organisation has also demanded that the death sentences of Pradeep Kumar Das – the then officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station – and suspended police inspector Liakat Ali be upheld by the High Court.
They further insisted that after the verdict is announced, it must be executed within the next seven working days. Otherwise, they warned, the association would announce the toughest possible programmes in protest to demand the execution of the verdict.
This demand was made on Saturday during a press conference organised by the Ex-Forces Association at the Dhaka Reporters Unity under the banner “Immediate Execution of the Death Sentence of OC Pradeep Convicted in the Martyr Major Sinha Murder Case.”
On the night of 31 July 2020, Major Sinha was shot dead by police at a checkpoint in Shamlapur, in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar. Police, led by Pradeep and Liakat, claimed that Sinha was shot during a so-called “gunfight” after allegedly attempting to pull a gun on law enforcement at the checkpoint.
However, investigations following public outcry revealed that Major Sinha was unarmed and that the shooting appeared to be a case of extrajudicial killing. It emerged that there were wider allegations of corruption, extortion, and abuse of power against police officials in the area, particularly involving Pradeep.
On 31 January 2022, the District and Sessions Judge’s Court of Cox’s Bazar delivered the verdict in the case, sentencing Pradeep and Liakat to death, and sentencing six other accused to life imprisonment.
In cases where the trial court hands down a death sentence, it requires approval by the High Court before execution, a process known as death reference.
At the press conference, convenor of the association, Lt Commander (retd.) Md Mehedi Hasan, said the death reference and appeal hearing in the case are currently ongoing at the High Court bench consisting of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Saqib Hussain.
He said, “We want to send a clear message to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law: do not let any threats, temptations, or political pressures influence you during the implementation of the verdict. It must be executed within seven working days after the verdict is announced.”
Addressing law adviser Asif Nazrul, Mehedi said, “You must correct your activities. Working against the country will not be tolerated.”
In a written statement given by the organisation, it was stated: “We hope the ongoing hearing will be completed within the next week, and the High Court will uphold the death sentences of Pradeep Kumar Das and Liakat Ali.”
The member secretary of the association, Lieutenant (retd.) Saifullah Khan Saif, also requested that the death reference and appeal hearings be concluded within one month.
He demanded that the death sentences of Pradeep, Liakat, and all others involved in the murder be executed.
Present at the press conference were the organisation’s advisers Lt Col (retd.) Shakhawat Hossain, Major (retd.) Rajibul Hasan, Captain (retd.) Shubh Afridi, Corporal (retd.) Tafsir Ahmed, former Navy member Said, and former soldier Md Naimul Islam.
After retiring early from military service, Sinha had engaged in making travel documentaries and was working on a project titled “Life on the Edge.”