Slain Nusrat's mother satisfied with verdict, now seeks security
Slain Nusrat's mother talks to journalists after hearing verdict. She demands for security. Agamir Somoy.
Shirin Akhter, the mother of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, has expressed satisfaction that the High Court upheld the death penalty for Siraj Ud Daula, the then-principal of Sonagazi Islamia Madrasa, and madrasa student Shahadat Hossain Shamim in the appeal verdict.
She expressed this satisfaction in a reaction on Monday afternoon, shortly after the verdict was announced.
In the Nusrat Jahan Rafi murder case, the Death Reference and appeal verdict upheld the death sentence for two accused, while the sentences of four others were reduced. Ten accused were acquitted in the case. The High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice K. M. Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict on Monday afternoon.
Earlier, the lower court had sentenced all 16 accused to death.
In her reaction to the verdict, Nusrat's mother told journalists, "We were defamed. It was said that Nusrat had committed suicide. But now we are free from that defamation."
Although she expressed satisfaction with the appeal verdict, Shirin Akhter voiced concern over the safety of her family members. She said, "My family and I are very worried about the security of my three sons. I request the Prime Minister to ensure the security of my family members."
Mahmudul Hasan Noman, the complainant in the case and Nusrat's elder brother, also expressed satisfaction with the verdict. He said that he is staying at his workplace while leaving family members at home, and his primary demand now is to ensure the family's security.
Meanwhile, expressing solidarity with Nusrat's family over their satisfaction with the verdict, Maulana Ibrahim Khalil, the acting principal of Sonagazi Islamia Kamil Madrasa, said, "We have learned that Nusrat's family is satisfied with the appeal verdict in this case. In solidarity with them, we also express our satisfaction."
Police have stepped up security around Nusrat's home and the madrasa area. Md. Abul Hashim, Officer-in-Charge of Sonagazi Police Station, said additional police have been deployed at Nusrat's residence to prevent any untoward incident following the verdict. Police were also deployed at the Sonagazi Islamia Kamil Madrasa campus on Monday afternoon.
On October 24, 2019, Judge Mamunur Rashid of the Feni Women and Children Repression Suppression Tribunal had sentenced all 16 accused to death in this case.
The death sentence handed down by the trial court came to the High Court for approval (Death Reference), while the accused also filed appeals. On June 10, the Chief Justice formed this special High Court bench to hear the Death Reference, appeals, and miscellaneous matters on a priority basis. The bench began its proceedings on June 14.
The hearing in the Nusrat murder case began on July 28. After a total of 17 working days, the hearings on the Death Reference, the accused's appeals, and the jail appeals concluded on August 20. The court fixed the verdict date on that very day.
The state was represented in court by Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Deputy Attorney General Syed Ijaz Kabir. The accused were represented by Advocate S. M. Shahjahan, Barrister Masud Hossain Dolon, and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir.
