The High Court has upheld the death sentences of former Officer-in-Charge (OC) Pradeep Kumar Das and Inspector Liaqat Ali in the high-profile murder case of retired army major Sinha Md Rashed Khan. The court also upheld life imprisonment for six other convicts, along with a fine of Tk 50,000 for each.
The verdict was delivered on Monday, June 2, by the High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Saqib Hussain.
Earlier, on May 29, the court concluded hearings on the death reference and appeals filed by the convicts. The date for the verdict was then set for June 2.
On April 21, 2024, Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed ordered the case to be disposed of on a priority basis and transferred all related documents to the bench of Justices Mostafizur Rahman and Saqib Hussain. Hearings began on June 23.
The case dates back to July 31, 2020, when Major Sinha was shot dead by police at a checkpoint on the Marine Drive Road in Shamlapur, Teknaf. At the time, Inspector Liaqat was stationed at the Baharchhara Police Investigation Center.
On August 5, 2020, five days after the incident, Major Sinha’s sister Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous filed a murder case with the Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court. On December 13, 2020, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted a charge sheet accusing 15 people and termed the killing a “premeditated murder.”
On January 31, 2022, Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Ismail handed down the initial verdict. OC Pradeep and Inspector Liaqat received the death penalty, while six others, including police personnel and local civilians, were sentenced to life imprisonment. The remaining seven accused were acquitted.
As per legal procedure, the death reference was forwarded to the High Court for confirmation, and the convicted individuals also filed appeals. After extensive hearings, the High Court has now delivered its verdict, upholding the original punishments.
