Published : 24 Aug 2026, 10:23 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:35 AM
The family of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi has expressed its satisfaction with the High Court’s decision on the appeal over her murder.
In a reaction after the verdict on Monday, Nusrat’s mother Shirin Ahkter said: “We respect the court. We are satisfied with the verdict given by the High Court. We are satisfied that the court said she was murdered. We are content with that.
“But my family is being threatened. Now we just need security.”
The High Court bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja ruled on the death references of 16 convicts sentenced to death by the trial court over the death of Nusrat, who was set on fire in Feni’s Sonagazi in 2019.
The death sentences of SM Siraj-ud-Doula, then principal of Nusrat’s madrasa, and his associate Shahadat Hossain Shamim were upheld.
Four others -- Nur Uddin, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Zobayer, Umme Sultana alias Poppy and Jabed Hossain alias Sakhawat Hossain -- had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
The remaining 10 defendants were acquitted.
The Murder
Nusrat was set on fire on the roof of a cyclone shelter at the exam centre of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Degree Madrasa on Apr 6, 2019, shortly before she was due to sit an Alim examination.
She died five days later, on Apr 10, while undergoing treatment at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Nusrat had earlier accused madrasa principal Siraj of sexual harassment.
Police arrested Siraj on Mar 27 after Nusrat’s mother filed a case over the allegation.
His arrest prompted local influential figures and some madrasa students to organise demonstrations demanding his release, while Nusrat’s family said they were repeatedly threatened to withdraw the case.
In a statement to doctors at DMCH on Apr 7, a day after she was set on fire, Nusrat again accused Siraj.
Two days after the attack, her brother Mahmudul Hasan Noman filed an attempted murder case naming eight people and several unidentified suspects.
It was converted into a murder case after Nusrat died.
The case was initially investigated by Sonagazi Police Inspector Kamal Hossain, but the Police Bureau of Investigation later took over amid allegations of negligence by local police.
PBI Inspector Shah Alam submitted a chargesheet against 16 people on May 29, 2019.
All 16 Sentenced to Death
On Oct 24, 2019, seven months after the killing, Judge Mamunur Rashid of the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced all 16 defendants to death and fined each Tk 100,000.
The case records reached the High Court on Oct 29 for the mandatory death reference proceedings.
As the case was considered sensitive, the paper book was prepared on a priority basis.
The convicts also filed separate appeals and jail appeals against their sentences.
Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury formed the High Court bench on Jun 10 to hear and dispose of death references, appeals and related matters in cases under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act on a priority basis.
The bench began work on Jun 14 and started hearing the Nusrat murder case on Jul 28.
The verdict came after 17 consecutive working days of hearings.
