The High Court has ordered the Law Ministry to withdraw the judicial powers of Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Mamunur Rashid and attach him to the ministry for handing down death sentences to the accused in a “wholesale manner” in the Nusrat Jahan Rafi murder case.
In its observation, the High Court of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja said the trial court caused a “serious disaster” for the families of the accused by handing down arbitrary death sentences.
The court also warned of the consequences of imposing death sentences indiscriminately without specific evidence and proper assessment of the facts of a case.
The High Court made the observation while acquitting 10 of the 16 accused in the case, saying the charges against them have not been proved.
The court upheld the death sentences of two convicts and commuted the sentences of four others to life imprisonment.
Senior lawyers Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, SM Shahjahan, Tajul Islam, Barrister SM Masud Hossain Dolan and Mohammad Shishir appeared for the accused.
Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal and Deputy Attorney General Syed Ijaz Kabir represented the state.
Relatives of both the accused and the victim were present in the courtroom when the verdict was pronounced.