
Audio By Carbonatix
A Bangladesh court has sentenced 16 people to death for the murder of a student set on fire after accusing her teacher of sexual harassment.Nusrat Jahan Rafi, 19, died in April in Feni, a small town some 160km (100 miles) outside the capital Dhaka.Those convicted of murder included the headteacher Nusrat had accused of harassment and two female classmates.Her murder shocked the country and led to a series of protests demanding justice for Nusrat.The trial has been one of the quickest in a country where such cases usually take years to conclude. Prosecutor Hafez Ahmed told reporters it proved “that nobody will get away with murder in Bangladesh”.However, the quick conclusion of the case did little to ease her mother’s agony on Thursday.“I can’t forget her for a moment,” Shirin Akhtar told news agency Reuters through tears upon hearing the verdict. “I still feel the pain that she went through.”Lawyers for the defendants say they will appeal.The investigation into Nusrat’s death revealed a conspiracy to silence her which included her own classmates and a number of powerful men from within the community.Three teachers, including the headmaster, Siraj Ud Doula, who police say ordered the killing from prison after he was arrested under suspicion of harassment, were found guilty by the court on Thursday. Another two of the defendants convicted, Ruhul Amin and Maksud Alam, are local leaders of the ruling Awami League party.A number of local police were found to have collaborated with those convicted in spreading false information that Nusrat had committed suicide. The officers were not among those tried for Nusrat’s murder.Nusrat’s family, who supported her decision to go to police back in March, have since been given police protection. Her brother Mahmudul Hasan Noman said they were still in fear for their lives.“You already know they threatened me in public inside the courtroom,” he told reporters. “I am very afraid. I am urging the prime minister to ensure our security. And the police super should also keep a track on our wellbeing.”However, the family welcomed the verdict, asking for the sentence to be carried out quickly. In Bangladesh, the death penalty is carried out by hanging.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
NPP criticism of LGBTQ Bill ‘nothing more than political posturing’ — Kwakye Ofosu
43 seconds -
Joy FM was birthed over a bowl of fufu’ – Tommy Annan-Forson shares interesting story
7 minutes -
World Athletics to introduce standalone World Marathon Championships from 2030
11 minutes -
Africa’s voice in global journalism grows as funding, AI and misinformation shape newsrooms
13 minutes -
First Atlantic Bank holds Annual General Meeting, reports strong growth and bold 2026 outlook
15 minutes -
Ghanaian-founded fintech WeWire secures Canadian PSP license to bridge African, global payments
19 minutes -
Uganda confirms 2027 AFCON dates
27 minutes -
40 convicted in Northern Region crime crackdown
27 minutes -
‘We’re days away from parts of the world experiencing actual shortages:’ Eric Nuttall on energy
37 minutes -
‘I’m Obroni in every country’ – Coco Blasian on music, survival and making Accra home
38 minutes -
IMANI wants NIC to probe possible conflicts of interest in reinsurance arrangements
50 minutes -
First Atlantic Bank strengthens balance sheet as net interest income surges 67%
54 minutes -
Choplife Gaming donates to Korle Bu Radiotherapy unit for Women’s Week 2026
56 minutes -
Would President Mahama have reduced cocoa prices if this were an election year ? – Annoh Dompreh asks
58 minutes -
Passion, not survival, should drive career choice – Dr Kofi Annan
59 minutes