HC strips judicial powers of Judge over 'multiple death sentences'

The High Court has ordered the removal of judicial powers from the former judge of the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, criticizing him for handing down what it described as 'arbitrary death sentences' in the sensational murder case of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.

In its judgment on Monday, the court said the trial judge had imposed death sentences indiscriminately, causing a 'devastating effect' on the families involved. 

The High Court directed that the judge’s judicial authority be withdrawn and that he be attached to the Ministry of Law.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja issued the order while delivering its judgment in the Nusrat murder case.

The court criticized the manner in which the trial court had handed down multiple death sentences, saying the consequences had been devastating for each of the affected families.

The order comes as part of the High Court’s judgment in the case involving the killing of Nusrat, a madrasa student whose death after being set on fire in Feni in 2019 sparked widespread public outrage across the country.