16, including ex-principal, get death in Nusrat murder case

A tribunal has sentenced to death all 16 accused, including SM Siraj-Ud-Doula, the then principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, over the murder of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a girl student of the madrasa.

Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal passed the verdict around 11am on Thursday.

The judgement follows hearing on 62 working days only -- an unprecedented development in the country's justice system, according to local media reports.

Nusrat succumbed to burns on April 10, four days after she was set on fire by the perpetrators for not withdrawing a sexual assault case against the principal who had planned the attack from jail.

Her death sent a shockwave across the country triggering massive protests, prompting the authorities to swing into action on the grisly incident.

All the convicts were present when the court handed down the verdict.