Published : 25 Aug 2026, 02:03 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:35 AM
Seven years after Nusrat Jahan Rafi was set ablaze at a Feni madrasa, the High Court has explained why four death sentences were reduced to life terms and 10 suspects were acquitted.
The bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered its verdict on Monday after hearing the death reference, appeals and jail appeals.
The court upheld the death sentences of former Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Degree Madrasa Principal SM Siraj-ud-Doula and his associate Shahadat Hossain Shamim. Four others received life terms, while 10 were acquitted.
The court observed that the murder stemmed from Siraj’s sexual harassment of Nusrat on Mar 27, 2019. While in jail, he conspired with others to kill her after she refused to withdraw the complaint, the court said.
Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal said the subsequent campaign for Siraj’s release and the resulting social conflict would likely not have occurred had he not harassed Nusrat.
Nusrat was sitting for her Alim examination when she was lured to the roof of a cyclone shelter on Apr 6. She was restrained, doused with kerosene and set ablaze. She died four days later after suffering burns to 75-80 percent of her body.
The High Court found that four suspects were involved in restraining Nusrat, tying her hands, pouring kerosene and setting her on fire.
But inconsistencies over who held her and who ignited the fire created reasonable doubt over their individual roles, leading to the reduced sentences.
The four are Nur Uddin, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Zubayer, Umme Sultana alias Popy, and Javed Hossain alias Sakhawat Hossain.
The 10 others were acquitted because the court found insufficient evidence against them.
Their names include former Sonagazi municipal councillor Maksud Alam, Hafez Mohammad Abdul Kader, Mohiuddin Shakil, Imran Hossain alias Mamun, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Mohammad Shamim, Iftekhar Uddin Rana, Ruhul Amin, Afsar Uddin and Kamrunnahar Moni.
The court also found flaws in the blanket death sentences handed down by the trial judge to all 16 suspects in October 2019. It directed the law ministry to withdraw the judge’s criminal judicial powers.
The High Court gave significant weight to Nusrat’s dying declaration, recorded during her transfer to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. She did not name any suspect, but spoke of four people wearing burqas.
Assistant Attorney General Ashraful Alam said such a declaration is treated as important primary evidence, though courts examine it carefully for reliability and possible motives to implicate others.
Nusrat’s brother and case complainant Mahmudul Hasan Noman welcomed the verdict, saying the family trusted the court. He also sought continued security, citing safety concerns.
Both the prosecution and defence said they would consider challenging the verdict in the Appellate Division.
