The High Court has delivered its verdict in the widely discussed murder case of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi in Sonagazi, Feni. The court sentenced two accused, including suspended madrasa principal Siraj Ud Daula, to death, handed life imprisonment to four others and acquitted 10 accused.

The verdict was announced on Monday (August 24) by a High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice K M Rasheduzzaman Raja.

According to case documents, on March 27, 2019, Siraj Ud Daula, then principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, allegedly called Nusrat to his office and sexually harassed her. He was arrested after a case was filed over the incident.

Later, after Nusrat refused to withdraw the case, she was taken to the roof of the madrasa on April 6, 2019, where she was set on fire. She died on April 10 while undergoing treatment at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Following the incident, Nusrat’s elder brother, Mahmudul Hasan (Noman), filed a case with Sonagazi Police Station. The case was subsequently converted into a murder case.

Earlier, on October 24, 2019, the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced all 16 accused to death.

The accused later filed appeals and jail appeals against the trial court verdict, while the death sentences were referred to the High Court for approval. After hearing the death references, appeals and jail appeals, the High Court delivered its verdict on Monday.