High Court to rule on Nusrat murder case verdict tomorrow

The High Court of Bangladesh is poised to issue its judgment on the death reference and appeals concerning the murder of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a student at a Feni madrasa. The court had previously fixed August 24 for the verdict after concluding 17 working days of hearings on the death reference and appeals filed by the convicts.

During the proceedings, defense lawyers argued for the acquittal of the accused appellants. They contended that evidence and documents proved Nusrat committed suicide and was not killed, asserting the appellants' lack of involvement in any conspiracy that might have provoked such an act. Conversely, state counsels implored the High Court to deliver justice by meticulously examining the available documents, evidence, and witness statements.

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Nusrat committed suicide, and she was not killed.

Nusrat, who was 19 at the time, was allegedly subjected to sexual harassment by the then-madrasa principal, SM Siraj-Ud-Dowlah, on March 27, 2019. Following her mother's complaint, Siraj was arrested and jailed. Tragically, on April 6, 2019, Siraj’s associates reportedly took Nusrat to the madrasa roof and set her ablaze. She succumbed to her injuries on April 10, 2019. In October 2019, a Feni court sentenced all 16 accused, including Siraj and two expelled local Awami League leaders, to death in connection with Nusrat's murder.

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prayed to the High Court to deliver justice based on the documents, evidence and statements from the witnesses.