HC hearing on appeals, death reference begins

The High Court (HC) has started hearing on the death reference and appeals today (April 23) in the murder case of former army officer Major (retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan, who was shot dead by police in Cox’s Bazar in 2020.

The hearing began at the High Court bench of Justice Md. Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md. Sagir Hossain.

Deputy Attorney General Shamima Sultana has started reading the case paper book for the state.

Senior lawyer SM Shahjahan is present for the accused.

Earlier, the Chief Justice sent the case to this bench for disposal.

The High Court on 8 February 2022 received the verdict of the trial court and case documents for the murder of Major Sinha for examination. Suspended police officials—Pradeep Kumar Das, former officer-in-charge (OC) of Teknaf Police Station, and Liaqat Ali, former inspector of Baharchhara Police Outpost—were sentenced to death in the case. On 15 February 2022, they filed appeals to the High Court seeking acquittal.

On 31 January 2022, a Cox’s Bazar court sentenced Pradeep Kumar Das and Liaqat Ali to death and also six others to life imprisonment.

The six are dismissed sub-inspector (SI) Nandadulal Rakkhit, constables Sagar Deb and Rubel Sharma, and police informants Md Nezamuddin, Nurul Amin and Ayaz Uddin.

Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, the elder sister of the deceased Major Sinha, filed the murder case with Cox’s Bazar court on 5 August 2020.

The murder happened on 31 July 2020 at a police check post on Teknaf Marine Drive Road in the Cox’s Bazar district. The court observed that the killing was premeditated.