Police have strengthened security at the home of slain madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi in Sonagazi as the High Court is set to deliver its verdict on Monday in the case over her murder.

A team of police led by Sonagazi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Abul Hasim visited Nusrat’s home on Sunday afternoon to assess the security of her family and the overall situation.

The police spoke to family members and enquired about their safety during the visit.

Nusrat’s mother, Shirin Akhter, said she was still devastated by the loss of her only daughter.

“We got justice from the lower court after seeking justice. Hopefully, we will get justice from the High Court as well,” she said.

“However, I am still worried about the safety of my three sons. Police are providing us with security. We also expect cooperation from the government in ensuring our safety and getting justice,” she added.

Nusrat’s elder brother Md Noman said, “My other family members and I are at home. We are grateful to the police administration for strengthening security. We want justice.”

OC Md Abul Hasim said a police team had been deployed at Nusrat’s home every day since the 2019 lower court verdict to ensure the safety of her family.

“Additional security measures have been taken around the High Court verdict,” he said.

A High Court bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja is scheduled to pronounce the verdict on Monday on the death references, appeals and jail appeals filed in the case.

The bench fixed the date on Thursday after concluding the hearing.

On 29 October, 2019, all case records relating to the death sentences were sent to the High Court for approval. The paper book containing the case documents was subsequently prepared on a priority basis.

Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, a death sentence passed by a trial court must be referred to the High Court for confirmation. The condemned prisoners can also challenge their convictions and sentences through appeals and jail appeals.

On 24 October, 2019, Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Mamunur Rashid sentenced all 16 accused to death in the case. The court also fined each of them Tk1 lakh.

According to the prosecution, Nusrat’s mother, Shirin Akhter, filed a case on 27 March, 2019 against SM Siraj-ud-Daula, then principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, accusing him of sexually harassing her daughter.

Siraj-ud-Daula was subsequently arrested. His supporters allegedly sought to secure his release and later plotted to silence Nusrat.

On 3 April, several of the accused reportedly met Siraj in jail, and on 4 April they allegedly planned to kill Nusrat at the madrasa.

On 6 April, Nusrat went to the madrasa to sit for her Alim examination. She was lured to the roof of a cyclone shelter attached to her madrasah, where she was set on fire after refusing to withdraw sexual assault charges against her principal.

Nusrat was rescued and initially taken to Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex before being transferred to Feni General Hospital. As her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she died on 10 April.

Her brother Mahmudul Hasan Noman filed the murder case on 8 April.

Police submitted the charge sheet on 28 May, and the Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal framed charges on 20 June. The trial court recorded the testimony of 87 witnesses and heard arguments before delivering its verdict on 24 October.

The 16 death-row convicts are SM Siraj-ud-Daula, former principal of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa; Nur Uddin; Shahadat Hossain Shamim; Maqsood Alam alias Moksud, a former councillor and former general secretary of Sonagazi municipality Awami League; Saifur Rahman Mohammad Jobayer; Jabed Hossain alias Sakhawat Hossain; Hafez Abdul Quader; Absar Uddin; Kamrun Nahar Moni; Umme Sultana alias Popy; Abdur Rahim Sharif; Iftekhar Uddin Rana; Imran Hossain alias Mamun; Ruhul Amin, president of Sonagazi Upazila Awami League and former vice-president of the madrasa; Mohiuddin Shakil; and Mohammad Shamim.