Bangladesh’s High Court on Monday ordered the removal of judicial powers from Mamunur Rashid, the then judge of Feni’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, over his handling of the widely discussed Nusrat murder case. The bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja also directed that he be attached to the Law Ministry.

The court said the trial court had imposed death sentences indiscriminately, causing a devastating effect on each family. After hearing death references, appeals and jail appeals, the High Court upheld death sentences for former Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Degree Madrasa principal Siraj Ud Daula and Shahadat Hossain Shamim.

Four accused—Umme Sultana Popy, Mohammad Nuruddin, Shahadat Hossain Javed and Iftekhar Hossain Rana—received life imprisonment. The High Court acquitted 10 accused, including Mohammad Shamim, Ruhul Amin, Afsar Uddin, Maksud Councillor, Hafez Abdul Kader, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Imran Hossain Mamun, Mohiuddin Shakil and Kamrun Nahar Moni. Senior lawyers represented the accused, while Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal and Deputy Attorney General Syed Ejaj Kabir appeared for the state.