Dhaka: The High Court (HC) has scheduled August 24 as the date to pronounce its judgment on the death reference and jail appeals concerning the murder of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a madrasa student from Sonagazi in Feni. The announcement was made by Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, who informed the media about the court's decision.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the High Court division bench, consisting of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja, commenced hearings on July 28, 2026. The hearings involved Deputy Attorney General Barrister Syed Ejaj Kabir and Assistant Attorney General Rohani Siddiqua, who represented the state in the proceedings.
The Feni Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal had previously sentenced all 16 accused in the case to death on October 24, 2019, alongside a fine of TK one lakh each. The convicts include SM Siraj Uddoula, Md Nur Uddin, Md Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Maksud Alam, Saifur Rahman Md Zubayer, Jabed Hossain, Hafej Abdul Kader, Md Afsar Uddin, Qamrunnahar Moni, Umme Sultana Popi, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Iftekhar Uddin Rana, Imran Hossain, Md Shamim, Ruhul Amin, and Mohiuddin Shakil.
The case documents were forwarded to the High Court on October 29, 2019, for approval. In response to the need for expedited proceedings, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury established a dedicated High Court bench on June 10, 2026. This bench focuses on death references for confirmation of death sentences under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, as well as appeals stemming from such judgments. Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazol also assembled a special prosecutors' team to participate in these hearings.