HC begins hearing on death reference, appeals in Sinha murder case

The High Court has begun hearing the death references and appeals of those convicted in the murder of Sinha Md Rashed Khan, a retired army major who was shot dead at a police checkpoint in 2020.

The hearing started on Wednesday before the panel of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain, with the presentation of the case’s paperbook -- a compiled record of all trial court documents -- by the state.

Around 11am, Deputy Attorney General Shamima Sultana Dipti began reading out parts of the trial court verdict from the paperbook. She is expected to sequentially present the first information report (FIR), chargesheet, witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and the full verdict in the coming sessions.

Once the paperbook presentation is complete, the prosecution will present its legal arguments, followed by the defence’s arguments on the appeals. The state will then respond to the defence’s submissions.

“This is how the proceedings on this highly sensitive case will progress," said Deputy Attorney General Humayun Kabir Manju.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has already ordered the case to be disposed of on a priority basis.

On Jul 31, 2020, Sinha was shot dead at a checkpoint on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive in Shamlapur.

After taking early retirement from the army, Sinha had travelled to Cox’s Bazar with a team to film a travel documentary.

His killing sparked a national outcry and the case soon exposed deep issues of abuse of power within the police.

In 2022, a court in Cox’s Bazar sentenced former Teknaf Police Station chief Pradip Kumar Das and Baharchhara Outpost chief Liaqat Ali to death for the murder.

Six others, including three police officers and three police informants, were handed life imprisonment for assisting in the killing and attempting to cover it up.

Four other policemen and three members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

An investigation into the incident by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) also revealed how Pradip, the then chief of Teknaf Police Station, would stage gunfights and extort people for money under the guise of a war on drugs.

Sinha and his team had come to learn about the torture and abuse inflicted on locals in Teknaf, which ultimately led to his targeted killing.

Feeling threatened that Sinha might expose his misdeeds, Pradip allegedly planned the murder. He ordered Liakat to open fire, while others on the scene helped stage the incident as a shootout.

Following the incident, Sinha’s sister filed a case and a total of 15 people, including 12 police personnel, were eventually charged.

The trial formally began on Jun 27, 2021, under Judge Mohammad Ismail of the Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Court. The verdict was delivered on Jan 31, 2022.

As required by law, the death sentences were referred to the High Court for confirmation. The convicted individuals, now in prison, also filed appeals, which are now under review.