Nusrat murder: 4 convicts challenge death penalty

Four death-row convicts filed petitions with the High Court on Monday challenging the lower court verdict against them in the sensational Nusrat Jahan Rafi murder case.

Principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa SM Sirajuddoula, Umme Sultana Popy, Nur Uddin and Javed Hossain alias Shakhawat Hossain moved the High Court against their convictions, said defense lawyer Jamiul Haque Faisal.

The death reference of the Nusrat murder case reached the High Court on October 29.

On October 24, 16 people, including the four, were given death penalty for their roles in murdering the madrasa student.

The Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Feni also fined each of them Tk 1 lakh.

The other convicts are Awami League ex-Sonagazi upazila unit president Ruhul Amin, Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Imran Hossain Mamun, Hafez Abdul Quader, Iftekhar Uddin Rana, Councillor Maksud Alam alias Moksud, Kamrunnahar Moni, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Zobair, Mohiuddin Shakil, Mohammad Shamim, Abdur Rahim Sharif and Absar Uddin.

Nusrat was set on fire on April 6 last on the rooftop of the educational institution, allegedly by people loyal to Sirajuddoula whom she had accused of sexually harassing her.

She succumbed to her injuries four days later at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

A case was filed with Sonagazi Police Station on April 8. Police pressed charges before the court against 16 people on May 29.

Source: UNB

AH