Some 16 people involved in the killing of Nusrat Jahan Rafi have been sentenced to death by a tribunal in Feni. The convicted includes madrasa principal SM Sirajuddoula who ordered his followers to murder her from jail after she filed a case of sexual harassment against him.
Nusrat was set on fire on April 6 on the roof of a madrasa she attended. She succumbed to her injuries four days later at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Twelve of the accused reportedly confessed to their involvement in the killing of Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Madrasa.
The verdict was a long-awaited one as everyone in the nation was hoping for justice to be served. Her murder left the country shocked and led to protests demanding justice.
The trial has been one of the quickest in the country where such cases usually take years to conclude. However, the trial must go through high court before the execution takes place.
The verdict was a long-awaited one as
everyone in the nation was
hoping for justice to be served
The case has also garnered attention from international media and the world was shocked at the brutal silencing of the brave young woman.
The killers had hoped to stage her death as a suicide but she managed to escape and get help. In doing so, she also helped to identify her killers.
Her case highlighted the vulnerability of sexual abuse victims in the country and how far the powerful are willing to go to silence anyone who goes against them.
The swift delivery of verdict brings hope to her family and well wishers. One can only hope that the execution is also carried out just as swiftly after following the proper judicial procedures.
If the sentences are carried out properly, it will undoubtedly restore the general public’s faith in the criminal justice system.
