Staff Correspondent

The High Court is set to deliver its verdict today, Monday, on the death references, appeals and jail appeals filed in the widely discussed murder case of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi in Sonagazi, Feni.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja will announce the verdict on Monday (August 24).

Earlier, on August 20, the court concluded hearings on the death references, appeals and jail appeals in the case. Lawyers for the accused, along with the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General representing the state, took part in the hearings.

According to case documents, on March 27, 2019, Nusrat accused Siraj Ud Daula, then principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, of sexual harassment. He was arrested after a case was filed. Amid pressure on Nusrat to withdraw the case, she was attacked on the roof of the madrasa on April 6. She later died on April 10 while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka.

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

On October 24, 2019, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Feni delivered its verdict, sentencing all 16 accused, including former madrasa principal Siraj Ud Daula, to death.

Following the verdict, the death references of the condemned convicts were sent to the High Court. The accused also filed separate appeals and jail appeals. After lengthy hearings on the petitions, the court fixed today for the announcement of its verdict.

The High Court verdict will mark an important stage in the judicial proceedings of the Nusrat murder case.