The High Court on Monday upheld the death sentences of two convicts in the murder case of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.
A bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict on the death reference and appeals in the case.
On Aug. 20, the bench set Monday for the verdict after 17 working days of hearings on the death reference and appeals filed by the convicts challenging the trial court's verdict.
During the hearings, defence lawyers sought acquittal of the appellants, arguing that evidence and documents showed Nusrat had died by suicide rather than being murdered.
They also argued that the appellants were not involved in the alleged conspiracy that, according to the defence, led her to take her own life.
State counsel asked the High Court to base its verdict on case documents, evidence and witness testimony.
Nusrat, then a 19-year-old student at Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, was allegedly sexually harassed by the institution's then-principal, SM Siraj-Ud-Dowlah, on March 27, 2019. Her mother filed a case against Siraj, who was later arrested and sent to jail.
Siraj's accomplices allegedly took Nusrat to the madrasa rooftop and set her on fire on April 6, 2019. She died from her injuries on April 10.
A Feni court on Oct. 24, 2019, sentenced all 16 accused, including Siraj and two expelled local Awami League leaders, to death in the case filed over Nusrat's killing.
FP/A
