The High Court has upheld the death sentence of former Teknaf police station officer-in-charge (OC) Pradeep Kumar Das and Inspector Md Liaqat Ali in the high-profile murder case of retired army Major Sinha Md Rashed Khan.
The court also confirmed the life sentences of six other accused.
The verdict was published on Thursday following the signing by the High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain. The accused now have 30 days to appeal the High Court decision.
Earlier, on June 2, the High Court upheld the death sentences of Pradeep and Liaqat and confirmed life imprisonment for six others, also imposing a Tk50,000 fine on each accused.
Those sentenced to life imprisonment include former SI Nandadulal Rakshit of Teknaf Police Station, Constable Rubel Sharma, Sagar Dev, Md Nurul Amin, Mohammad Ayaz, and Md Nizam Uddin of Marishbunia village in Baharchhara, Cox's Bazar.
The death reference and appeal hearing concluded on May 29.
Major Sinha Md Rashed Khan was shot dead by Inspector Liaqat Ali, then of the Baharchhara Investigation Centre, at Shamlapur check post on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive road around 9:30pm on July 31, 2020. Five days later, Sinha’s sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed the case. On December 13, 2020, RAB submitted a charge sheet accusing 15 people, describing the murder as “planned.”
On January 31, 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 to life imprisonment. Seven others were acquitted.
The death reference was sent to the High Court on February 8, 2022, for confirmation. The convicted accused also appealed, and Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed later formed a bench to dispose of the death reference and appeals on a priority basis.
