Nusrat Murder Trial: HC verdict today on 16 death sentences

The High Court is set to deliver its verdict today on the death references and appeals in the murder case of Feni madrasah student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.
The HC bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja will pronounce the verdict.
On Thursday last, the bench fixed today for the verdict after hearing the death references and appeals filed by the convicts challenging the trial court’s judgment for 17 working days.
During the hearing, defence lawyers sought acquittal of the accused, arguing that evidence and documents showed that Nusrat had committed suicide and was not killed. They also claimed the accused were not involved in any conspiracy that allegedly prompted her to take her own life.
State counsels, meanwhile, urged the High Court to deliver justice based on the evidence, documents and statements of witnesses.
Nusrat, then 19, was a student of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasah. She was allegedly sexually harassed by the madrasah’s then principal SM Siraj-Ud-Dowlah on 27 March 2019. Her mother subsequently filed a case against Siraj, who was arrested and sent to jail.