The state has taken fresh initiatives to expedite the final disposal of four high-profile murder cases that have deeply shaken public conscience, with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court setting hearing dates for appeals in the Narayanganj seven-murder, Biswajit Das, Abrar Fahad and Major Sinha murder cases.
The move has raised hopes of bringing long-awaited legal closure to the sensational cases, in which the higher courts have already upheld or modified the sentences handed down to the convicts.
The prosecution, led by Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, has taken steps to expedite the disposal of the murder cases pending before the Supreme Court. Following applications by the prosecution, Justice Md Rezaul Haque of the Chamber Court assigned specific hearing dates before the regular bench of the Appellate Division.
Narayanganj seven-murder case: Appeals against the High Court judgment, which upheld the death sentences of 15 convicts, including former RAB-11 officers Tareq Sayeed, Arif Hossain and SM Masud Rana, and commuted the death sentences of 11 others to life imprisonment, will be heard on November 17.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice Bhabani Prasad Singha and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam delivered the judgment on August 22, 2017, after hearing the appeals and death references in the case.
BUET Student Abrar Fahad Murder Case: The Appellate Division Chamber Judge Court has fixed November 24 for hearing appeals against the High Court judgment in the murder case of BUET student Abrar Fahad.
On October 6, 2019, Abrar Fahad was beaten to death inside Sher-e-Bangla Hall of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) by Chhatra League activists.
On December 8, 2021, Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 sentenced 20 accused to death and five others to life imprisonment.
On March 16, 2025, the High Court upheld the death sentences of 20 convicts, including Mehedi Hasan Russell, Anik Sarkar, Mehedi Hasan Robin, Ifti Mosharraf and Moniruzzaman, among others. It also upheld the life sentences of five other convicts.
Retired Army Major Sinha Murder Case: Appeals against the High Court judgment in the murder case of retired Army Major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan will be heard on December 1.
Major (retd) Sinha was shot dead on July 31, 2020. On January 31, 2022, a trial court sentenced two accused to death, six to life imprisonment and acquitted seven others. Former Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Pradeep Kumar Das and former Inspector Liakat Ali were sentenced to death.
The court sentenced Sub-Inspector Nando Dulal Rakshit, Constables Sagar Deb, Rubel Sharma and three police sources to life imprisonment. On June 2, 2025, the High Court upheld the sentences.
Biswajit Das Murder Case: The Appellate Division Chamber Judge Court has fixed December 8 for hearing appeals in the murder case of tailor shop worker Biswajit Das.
Biswajit Das was beaten and hacked to death near Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka on December 9, 2012. On December 18, 2013, Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 sentenced eight accused to death and 13 others to life imprisonment.
On August 6, 2017, the High Court upheld the death sentences of Rafiqul Islam Shakil and Rajon Talukdar, commuted four other death sentences to life imprisonment and acquitted two convicts. Of the 13 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment, two were acquitted by the High Court following appeals, while the life sentences of the remaining 11 were maintained.
Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal told BSS that the state has taken the initiative to ensure the speedy and final disposal of these cases, which have deeply stirred society and the conscience of the people.
"We have taken the initiative on behalf of the state to ensure the speedy and final disposal of these cases, which have shaken society and the conscience of the people. The Chamber Judge Court of the Appellate Division has fixed dates for hearings of the cases before the regular bench of the Appellate Division. We expect the hearings to begin on the scheduled dates and the cases to be disposed of finally without delay," he said.
In a separate development, the High Court on October 27 directed a high-level task force investigating the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi to complete its investigation and submit a probe report by April 29, 2027.
The court also directed the task force chief and International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zoha to appear before it on the same day with all relevant case documents.
Commenting on the much-discussed case, Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal told BSS that the present government does not want to protect anyone or conceal any information.
"Our main objective is to establish the actual facts and identify those responsible through a fair investigation," he said.
Meanwhile, the latest report submitted by the task force to the High Court said that, during discussions with International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam and Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zoha, they were informed that preliminary findings had indicated possible links of former army officer Ziaul Ahsan and media personality Rokeya Prachi to the Sagar-Runi murder.
The report said the matter was being investigated and verified. Upon completion of their preliminary investigation, the information gathered would be handed over to the investigating officer of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).