Bangladesh High Court criticizes judicial sensitivity in Nusrat Jahan murder case

The High Court of Bangladesh has released a 112-page full verdict regarding the murder of Madrasa student Nusrat Jahan in Sonagazi, Feni, seven years ago. In the ruling, the court criticized the previous tribunal judge, Mamunur Rashid, stating there was a “lack of judicial sensitivity” in the original sentencing.

The High Court bench, comprising Justice Bishwamdev Chakraborty and Justice K.M. Rasheduzzaman Raja, upheld the death sentences for the former principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, SM Siraj Uddin Dowla, and student Shahadat Hossain Shamim. However, the court noted that the original tribunal had sentenced 16 individuals to death, despite finding minimal evidence against several of them.

The High Court observed that such “imprudent and irresponsible sentencing” is not expected in a civilized society and noted that several individuals had suffered in solitary confinement for over seven years due to these errors. Of the 16 originally sentenced to death, the High Court found sufficient grounds to uphold the death penalty for only two individuals, while reducing the sentences of four others to life imprisonment and acquitting ten others.