HC upholds death sentences for two in Nusrat murder case; four get life, 10 acquitted

The High Court on Monday upheld the death sentences of two convicts in the sensational murder of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi, while commuting the sentences of four others to life imprisonment and acquitting 10.

A bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja confirmed the death penalty for Siraj Uddaula, the then principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasa, and Shahadat Hossain Shamim. 

The court also disposed of the death reference, criminal appeals and jail appeals filed by the convicts.

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

On October 24, 2019, the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal had sentenced 16 people to death, including Siraj Uddaula, and fined each Tk 1 lakh. 

The case records were later sent to the High Court for confirmation of the death sentences. The convicts subsequently filed appeals and jail appeals.

The incident dates back to March 27, 2019, when Nusrat’s mother, Shirin Akhtar, filed a case accusing Siraj Uddaula of sexually assaulting her daughter. 

The principal was arrested, after which some of his associates allegedly tried to mobilise public support for his release. On April 3, the accused met Siraj in prison. A plan to kill Nusrat was allegedly hatched the next day. On April 6, when Nusrat went to the madrasa to sit for her Alim examination, she was attacked and set on fire on the roof of a cyclone shelter. 

She was first taken to Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex, then to Feni General Hospital, and later to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she died on April 10. 

Her brother, Mahmudul Hasan Noman, filed the murder case.

Apart from Siraj Uddaula and Shahadat Hossain Shamim, the trial court had sentenced to death Ruhul Amin (then president of Sonagazi Upazila Awami League), Maksudul Alam (Sonagazi Municipality councillor), madrasa teacher Hafez Abdul Quader, lecturer Afsar Uddin, students Nur Uddin, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Jobayer, Jabed Hossain alias Sakhawat Hossain Jabed, Kamrun Nahar Moni, Umme Sultana Popi alias Tuhin, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Iftekhar Uddin Rana, Imran Hossain Mamun, Mohammad Shamim and Mohi Uddin Shakil.

The High Court received the death reference (No. 140/19) on October 29, 2019. Given the high-profile nature of the case, a paper book was prepared on a priority basis.