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Solved case · 2019
Also known as Nusrat Jahan Rafi
The short answer
Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a 19-year-old Bangladeshi student, was set on fire in April 2019 after refusing to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against her madrasa principal; she died four days later, and sixteen people, including the principal and two politicians, were sentenced to death.
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Suggest coverage for Murder of Nusrat Jahan RafiThe case file
Nusrat Jahan Rafi was a 19-year-old student from Feni, Bangladesh, who had filed a sexual harassment complaint against Siraj Ud Doula, the principal of her madrasa. The principal gave the order to have her murdered after she refused to withdraw the complaint. She was lured to the madrasa, where assailants attempted to convince her to drop the complaint; when she refused, they poured kerosene on her and set her on fire. She suffered burns covering more than 80% of her body.
While being transported to the hospital, Rafi recorded a statement identifying some of her attackers. She died four days after the attack, on 10 April 2019, at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
The case was investigated by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). A deathbed statement in which Rafi made accusations against her murderers was recorded by Moazzem Hossain, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonagazi Thana police station. That recording was subsequently leaked by the officer to a journalist and spread widely online. Moazzem Hossain was later sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for his role in leaking the video.
Following Rafi's death, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated that those responsible for the crime would be prosecuted. On 29 May 2019, the PBI announced that sixteen individuals — including two politicians — had been charged with her murder. Those charged were named as: madrassah principal SM Sirajuddowla, Awami League leader Ruhul Amin, Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Nur Uddin, Imran Hossain Mamun, Hafez Abdul Quader, Iftekhar Uddin Rana, Councillor Maksud Alam (alias Moksud), Kamrunnahar Moni, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Zobair, Javed, Umme Sultana Popy, Mohiuddin Shakil, Mohammad Shamim, Abdur Rahim Sharif, and Absar Uddin.
Following a fast-tracked trial at the women and children repression prevention tribunal in Feni, all sixteen defendants — including former members of the school's administration, teachers, and pupils — were found guilty and sentenced to death on 24 October 2019.
4 dated entries · 2019
Nusrat Jahan Rafi is lured to her madrasa, where assailants pour kerosene on her and set her on fire after she refuses to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against the principal.
Rafi dies of her injuries at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, four days after the attack.
The Police Bureau of Investigation states that sixteen individuals, including two politicians, have been charged with her murder.
All sixteen defendants are found guilty and sentenced to death following a fast-tracked trial at the women and children repression prevention tribunal in Feni.
18 named in this file
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
19-year-old madrasa student who was set on fire and died from her injuries after reporting sexual harassment by her principal.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Local councillor (alias Moksud), charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Thana police station who recorded Rafi's deathbed statement and leaked the video; sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the leak.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Awami League leader charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
Madrasa principal accused by Rafi of sexual harassment; convicted and sentenced to death for ordering and orchestrating her murder.[3]
Charged and convicted in the murder, sentenced to death.[3]
From the record
3 cited
Coverage is not a source: every fact in this file rests on the records below.
PressBBC NewsAccessed Jul 7, 2026
PressCBS NewsAccessed Jul 7, 2026
EncyclopedicWikipediaAccessed Jul 7, 2026
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