HC upholds death penalty in Sinha murder case

Staff Reporter :

The High Court has reaffirmed the death sentences handed to former Teknaf Police Station OC Pradeep Kumar Das and Inspector Md Liaqat Ali in the widely discussed murder of retired army officer Major Sinha Md Rashed Khan.
The bench also upheld the life imprisonment terms of six other convicts.

The judgment was released on Thursday after being signed by the High Court bench of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain. The convicts now have 30 days to file appeals challenging the High Court ruling.

Earlier, on 2 June, the High Court had maintained the death sentences of Pradeep and Liaqat and confirmed life terms for six others, along with a Tk50,000 fine imposed on each of the convicts.

Those whose life sentences were upheld are former SI Nandadulal Rakshit of Teknaf Police Station, constables Rubel Sharma and Sagar Dev, and Marishbunia residents Md Nurul Amin, Mohammad Ayaz, and Md Nizam Uddin.
The hearing on the death reference and appeals concluded on 29 May.

Major Sinha was shot dead by Inspector Liaqat Ali, then stationed at the Baharchhara Investigation Centre, at the Shamlapur check post on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive around 9:30pm on 31 July 2020.

Five days later, Sinha’s sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a murder case. On 13 December 2020, RAB submitted a charge sheet accusing 15 individuals and terming the killing “premeditated.”

On 31 January 2022, Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Ismail sentenced Pradeep and Liaqat to death. SI Nandadulal Rakshit, constables Rubel Sharma and Sagar Dev, and Md Nurul Amin, Mohammad Ayaz, and Md Nizam Uddin were given life imprisonment, while seven others were acquitted.

The death reference reached the High Court on 8 February 2022 for mandatory confirmation. The convicted individuals also appealed the verdicts, and Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed subsequently constituted a bench to hear the death reference and appeals on a priority basis.