Feni’s Nusrat Jahan murder case: Death sentences of two convicts upheld
The High Court has upheld the death sentences of two accused in the sensational murder case of madrasah student Nusrat Jahan Rafi in Sonagazi, Feni.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict today, Monday, after hearing the death reference (approval of the death sentences), appeals and jail appeals filed in the case.
The two convicts whose death sentences have been upheld are Siraj Ud Doula, then principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasah, and Shahadat Hossain Shamim.
The Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered its verdict in the case on 24 October 2019. It sentenced 16 people, including the madrasa’s suspended principal Siraj Ud Doula, to death.
According to case documents, on 27 March 2019, then principal Siraj Ud Doula called Nusrat to his office at Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasa and sexually harassed her. He was arrested after a case was filed over the incident.
When Nusrat refused to withdraw the case, she was called to the madrasa’s rooftop on 6 April, where her hands and feet were tied, kerosene was poured over her and she was set on fire.
Nusrat died on 10 April that year while undergoing treatment at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Her elder brother Mahmudul Hasan (Noman) filed a case with Sonagazi police station over the arson attack. The case was later converted into a murder case.
After the trial court verdict, the case records were sent to the relevant High Court section on 29 October 2019 for a death reference and registered as Death Reference No. 140/2019.
A paper book was prepared on a priority basis because the case was considered sensational. The convicts also filed separate appeals and jail appeals.
On 10 June, the chief justice constituted a specific High Court bench to hear death references, appeals and miscellaneous matters related to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act on a priority basis. The bench began its proceedings on 14 June.
The hearing in this sensational murder case began before the bench on 28 July and concluded on 20 August. On that day, the High Court fixed 24 August for the verdict. Accordingly, the verdict was delivered today.