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The High Court has upheld the death sentences of two convicts in the widely discussed murder case of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi in Sonagazi, Feni. The court also sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment and acquitted 10 others.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict on Monday (August 24) on the death references, appeals and jail appeals filed in the case.
The two convicts whose death sentences were upheld are Siraj Ud Doula and Shahadat Hossain Shamim.
The four convicts sentenced to life imprisonment are Umme Sultana Popy, Mohammad Nuruddin, Shahadat Hossain Javed and Iftekhar Hossain Rana.
The 10 acquitted convicts are Mohammad Shamim, Ruhul Amin, Afsar Uddin, Maksud Councillor, Hafiz Abdul Kader, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Imran Hossain Mamun, Mahiuddin Shakil and Kamrunnahar Moni.
Nusrat’s mother, Shirin Akhter, expressed satisfaction with the High Court verdict. She said the pain of losing Nusrat continues to haunt the family. She said they had received justice from the trial court and expressed satisfaction with the High Court’s decision as well.
Shirin Akhter said the family remained concerned about the safety of her other children following Nusrat’s death. She said family members were currently living amid serious security concerns and urged the government to ensure their protection.
Mahmudul Hasan, Nusrat’s elder brother and the complainant in the case, also expressed satisfaction with the High Court verdict. However, he said the family had been living with anxiety and insecurity since Nusrat’s murder.
Meanwhile, the High Court verdict sparked fresh discussions among residents of Sonagazi. The murder of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, by setting her on fire on April 6, 2019, triggered widespread outrage across the country.
Local residents said the horrific memory of Nusrat’s murder remains fresh in their minds. They stressed the need for exemplary punishment for perpetrators and a safe environment in educational institutions to prevent similar incidents.
Sonagazi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Hashem said additional police had been deployed at Nusrat’s family home since Sunday to ensure their security. He said police would remain beside the family at all times.
Following the High Court verdict, the legal proceedings in the Nusrat murder case have entered a new stage. Although the verdict has prompted discussions in Sonagazi, police said the law-and-order situation in the area remains normal.
