The High Court has upheld the death sentences of former police officer Pradeep Kumar Das and Inspector Md. Liaqat Ali in the murder case of retired army major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan.
The court has also maintained the life imprisonment sentences for six other accused.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Saheer Hossain. The judgment followed hearings on the death reference and appeals filed by the convicts after the lower court's verdict.
Deputy Attorney General Jashim Uddin Sarkar confirmed the decision, stating, "The High Court has approved the death reference and dismissed the appeals. The death penalties for Pradeep and Liaqat and the life sentences for the six others remain intact."
Senior lawyer Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, who represented Pradeep, said the convict has the option to appeal against the High Court verdict within 30 days of receiving a certified copy of the judgment.
Earlier, the High Court concluded the hearings on May 29 and set June 2 for the verdict announcement.
The six others whose life sentences were upheld include former Sub-Inspector Nandadulal Rakshit, constables Rubel Sharma and Sagar Deb, and local residents from Baharchhara in Cox’s Bazar—Md. Nurul Amin, Mohammad Ayaz, and Md. Nizam Uddin.
The case stems from the fatal shooting of Major (retd.) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan on the night of July 31, 2020, at a police checkpoint on the Marine Drive road in Shamlapur, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
Following the incident, a case was filed, and on January 31, 2022, the Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Judge Court sentenced Pradeep and Liaqat to death, and the other six to life in prison.
