The appellate verdict has been delivered in the widely discussed murder case of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi in Sonagazi, Feni. The court sentenced two accused to death and four to life imprisonment, while 10 others were acquitted.

The verdict was announced on Monday (August 24) from 12:50pm by a High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja.

The two convicts sentenced to death are SM Siraj Ud Daula, the expelled principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasa, and Shahadat Hossain Shami.

Advocates SM Shahjahan, Barrister Masud Hossain Dolon and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared for the accused.

Earlier, on October 24, 2019, the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal handed down its verdict in the Nusrat murder case. The tribunal sentenced all 16 accused, including then-principal Siraj Ud Daula, to death and fined each Tk 100,000.

According to case documents, on March 27, 2019, Nusrat’s mother, Shirin Akter, filed a case against then-principal Siraj Ud Daula over allegations of sexual harassment. Siraj was subsequently arrested.

According to the charge sheet and case documents, a plan was made to kill Nusrat after she refused to withdraw the case against the principal.

On April 6, 2019, Nusrat went to the madrasa to sit for her Alim examination. She was allegedly taken to the rooftop, where kerosene was poured over her body and she was set on fire.

She was initially taken to Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex in critical condition. She was later transferred to Feni 250-bed General Hospital and then to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Nusrat died while undergoing treatment on April 10.

Her brother, Mahmudul Hasan Noman, filed a murder case on April 8. The charge sheet was submitted on May 28, and charges were framed against the accused on June 20.

After recording the testimony of 87 witnesses and hearing arguments over 61 working days, the tribunal delivered its verdict on October 24, 2019.