HC orders withdrawal of judge’s judicial powers

The High Court has described the trial court’s decision to sentence all 16 accused to death for the murder of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi as “mindless”.

It has also ordered the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to withdraw the criminal judicial powers of Mamunur Rashid, who delivered the verdict as judge of Feni’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal.

Rashid, now a senior district judge-equivalent officer, serves as chairman of the Minimum Wage Board.

The bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the ruling on Monday after 17 days of hearings on the death reference, appeals and jail appeals.

The trial court had sentenced all 16 accused to death on October 24, 2019, along with a fine of Tk 100,000 each.

Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal said the High Court found that Rashid had failed to apply the judicial mind required when deciding the punishment.

He stressed that the observation applied specifically to Rashid and not to judges generally.

Kazal said he hoped the law ministry would consider the matter. He also said judges must remain fearless and decide cases solely on the evidence presented in court, without being influenced by outside statements or how issues are portrayed.�"bdnews24