Nusrat murder verdict throws newborn’s future into uncertainty

After the speedy trial of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi’s murder case, the fate of the newborn daughter of one of the 16 individuals convicted of the crime fell into uncertainty as her mother, Kamrun Nahar Moni was also sentenced to death.

Moni gave birth to a baby girl who was later named Rakhi on 21 September. Both mother and child were confined to Feni district jail awaiting verdict. She was present on the dock along with the newborn on 21 October when the tribunal delivered the verdict, reports UNB.

Alongside 15 other accused, Moni too was sentenced to death for her involvement with the murder of her classmate Nusrat Jahan Rafi. What will happen to her child is still undecided as there were no directions from the administration.

“The convicted accused in the Nusrat murder case in Feni district jail will be transferred to Cumilla jail if there’s any vacancy. If there’s no vacancy, they will be transferred to condemned cells in Kashimpur and other central jails. In that case Kamrun Nahar Moni will also have to take her child,” said Feni district jail senior superintendent Rafikul Kader.

However, the lawyer of the convicted in the case, Gias Uddin Nannu said Moni will not be executed as long as the child cannot feed itself.

“We will appeal to the High Court very soon,” he added.

Moni’s husband Rashed Khan Raju alleged the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) forced a false confession from her in custody through torture.

Although Moni’s lawyer applied for bail due to her physical condition, the court denied it every time. Later she was exempted from appearing in court.

Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Madrasa, was set on fire on 6 April on the roof of the madrasa she attended, allegedly by people loyal to principal Siraj Ud Daula whom she had accused of sexually harassing her.

She succumbed to her injuries four days later at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

A case was filed at Sonagazi police station on 8 April. Police pressed charges in court against 16 people on 29 May.

Twelve of the accused reportedly confessed to their involvement in the killing of Nusrat.

Although they were all determined to have played roles of varying importance, district women and children repression prevention tribunal sentenced all the 16 to death for their roles in killing Nusrat on 24 October.

Moni, a distant relative of another convicted Shamim, bought a burqa and a pair of gloves for Tk 2,000, for use during the murder. She is accused of taking part in the murder directly, by pushing Nusrat and pressing her to the floor.

Tribunal judge Mamunur Rashid handed down the verdict ending the trial in 62 working days.

The convicts are – madrasa’s principal SM Siraj Ud Daula, ex-Awami League upazila unit president Ruhul Amin, Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Nur Uddin, Imran Hossain Mamun, Hafez Abdul Quader, Iftekhar Uddin Rana, councillor Maksud Alam alias Moksud, Kamrunnahar Moni, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Zobair, Javed, Umme Sultana Popy, Mohiuddin Shakil, Mohammad Shamim, Abdur Rahim Sharif and Absar Uddin.

The tribunal also fined them Tk. 100,000 each.