Special Correspondent: The family of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, the madrasa student who was burnt to death in a tragic incident that shocked the country, expressed satisfaction following the High Court’s verdict upholding the maximum penalty for the primary accused.
Overwhelmed with emotion after the decision was delivered on Monday afternoon, Nusrat’s mother, Shirin Akhtar, shared her sorrow: “Seven long years have passed since I lost my only daughter, but the grief remains as deep as ever. Today, with this outcome, I feel my daughter’s soul can finally rest in peace.”A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice K. M. Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the long-awaited judgment after completing hearings on the death references and appeals. The court confirmed the capital punishment for the former principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, Siraj Ud Doula, and co-accused Shahadat Hossain Shamim.Out of the sixteen convicts previously sentenced to death by the trial court, the High Court commuted the sentences of four defendants to life imprisonment, while acquitting the remaining ten due to unproven charges.Following the announcement, media personnel and local residents gathered at Nusrat’s ancestral home in Uttarm Char Chandia, Sonagazi. Speaking through tears, Shirin Akhtar recalled the brutality of the crime: “Siraj Ud Doula and his accomplices snatched my innocent child away. While justice has prevailed, our daily concern now shifts to our safety.” Highlighting persistent threats from associates of the accused, she urged top administrative officials to ensure continuous protection for her family.Mahmudul Hasan Noman, Nusrat’s elder brother and the plaintiff in the case, echoed these safety concerns. “We have trusted the legal process from day one. However, ever since the initial trial court verdict, relatives of the convicts have repeatedly threatened us, particularly online. We simply want to live without fear.”To prevent any potential unrest, security measures have been intensified across the area. Sonagazi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Hashim confirmed that additional forces have been deployed around the victim’s residence following a formal request by the plaintiff, adding that the local situation remains peaceful and strictly monitored.