Bangladesh’s High Court (HC) has upheld the death sentences handed to former police officer Pradeep Kumar Das and suspended inspector Liakat Ali for the killing of retired army major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan in 2020. 

A bench comprising Justice Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Mohammad Sagir Hossain issued the verdict following the conclusion of appeal hearings on May 29. 

The two former officers were convicted for their roles in what the court described as a "premeditated murder" of Major Sinha, who was shot dead at a police checkpoint on the Marine Drive road in Cox’s Bazar on July 31, 2020. 

The High Court upheld the lower court’s decision, which sentenced Pradeep and Liakat to death on 31 January 2022. Six other suspended police personnel and their informants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven others were acquitted. 

Pradeep, then officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, and Liakat, in charge of the Baharchhara police outpost, had initially claimed that the killing was the result of a shootout. 

But an investigation by the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) concluded it was a deliberate and orchestrated murder. 

The killing occurred when Sinha, a former army officer turned documentary filmmaker, was traveling along the scenic Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive. His vehicle was stopped at a police checkpoint, where he was fatally shot. On the same night, police detained two of Sinha’s associates on narcotics charges. 

Following the incident, Sinha’s sister filed a murder case against nine police officers. On 13 December 2020, RAB submitted a charge sheet against 15 individuals, including police officers and informants. 

During the trial, the court strongly criticized the pattern of police violence in the area under Pradeep’s command. Between his appointment and the murder, at least 205 people were reportedly killed in so-called gunfights or “crossfire dramas” in Teknaf — a practice widely condemned by rights groups. 

Pradeep's lawyer, Advocate Rana Dasgupta, confirmed on Tuesday that an appeal had been filed on February 15 seeking acquittal, which has now been rejected by the High Court. 

SMS/