Sonagazi: Shirin Akter, mother of madrasah student Nusrat Jahan Rafi, expressed satisfaction over the High Court verdict in the murder case of her daughter. However, she voiced concerns for her family’s safety, claiming they have received threats.

According to United News of Bangladesh, Shirin Akter, speaking from her home in the Char Chandia area of Sonagazi upazila in Feni, said, “I am satisfied with the verdict, Alhamdulillah.” She emphasized that the verdict confirmed her daughter’s death was indeed a murder, countering earlier attempts by some to label it a suicide.

Shirin Akter alleged that her family has been threatened with arson attacks and harm to family members. She called for security from the authorities, including Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Sub-Inspector Palash Chandra Roy of Feni Model Police Station confirmed that additional security measures were in place to prevent any incidents following the verdict.

The High Court on Monday upheld the death sentences of two convicts in the Nusrat murder case, Siraj-ud-Daula, the expelled principal of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasah, and Shahadat Hossain alias Shamim. The court also commuted the death sentences of four convicts to life imprisonment and acquitted 10 others.

The life sentences were given to Nur Uddin, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Jobayer, Jabed Hossain alias Sakhawat Hossain, and Umme Sultana alias Popy. Those acquitted include former councillor Maqsood Alam alias Moksud, Hafez Abdul Quader, Absar Uddin, Kamrun Nahar Moni, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Iftekhar Uddin Rana, Imran Hossain alias Mamun, Ruhul Amin, Mohiuddin Shakil, and Mohammad Shamim.

According to the prosecution, the incident began when Siraj-ud-Daula sexually harassed Nusrat on March 27, 2019. After a case was filed, he was arrested. On April 6, 2019, Nusrat was taken to the roof of the madrasah building, where she was set on fire after refusing to withdraw the case. Nusrat succumbed to her injuries on April 10 in a Dhaka hospital.

Her brother, Mahmudul Hasan Noman, filed a case with Sonagazi Police Station, which was later escalated to a murder case. On October 24, 2019, the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced all 16 accused, including Siraj Ud Doula, to death.