Maj Sinha murder: High Court fixes 2 June to deliver verdict on death reference, appeals

The High Court has scheduled 2 June for delivering its verdict in the sensational murder case of Major (retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan, who was shot dead by police in Cox's Bazar in 2020.

The bench of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice SM Kuddus Zaman today (29 May) set the date, after finishing hearing of both the death reference and appeals filed by the convicts against their death sentences.

The hearing began on 23 April.

On 31 January 2022, the court of Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Ismail sentenced two accused to death and six others to life in jail.

The death-row convicts are sacked officer-in-charge (OC) of Teknaf Police Station Pradip Kumar Das and sacked inspector of the Shamlapur police camp Liakat Ali.

The life-term convicts are sub-inspector Nanda Dulal Rakshit, constables Sagar Deb and Rubel Sharma, and three police sources Nurul Amin, Nizam Uddin, and Ayaz Uddin.

The court also acquitted seven accused, including a sub-inspector and two constables of Armed Police Battalion and four constables of police in the case.

However, as the Cox's Bazar court sent verdict papers to the High Court in 2022, the state counsel did not file any plea, while two appeals were filed for the two death-row convicts.

Sinha was killed in police firing at Shamlapur checkpost in Tenaf's Baharchhara on Cox's Bazar Marine Drive Road on 31 July 2020.

On 5 August that year, his sister Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous filed a case at a district court naming the then in-charge of Baharchhara police camp, inspector Liakat Ali, as the main accused.

Then OC of Teknaf Police Station Pradip Kumar Das and some other policemen were also made accused.

On 6 August, seven accused policemen surrendered before the court.

The case was documented at Teknaf Police Station and the RAB was tasked with its investigation by the court.

On 13 December 2020, RAB-13 Cox's Bazar Battalion filed a chargesheet against 15 individuals in the case.

In addition, a five-member committee was formed from the home ministry to investigate the sensational murder. However, the findings of the submission have remained undisclosed.

Also, in the face of widespread criticism, more than 1,500 police personnel, including then superintendent of Cox's Bazar police, were also transferred from the beach district after the incident, reported our correspondent.