The High Court has upheld the death sentences of former Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Pradeep Kumar Das and former In-charge of Baharchora Police Investigation Centre Inspector Md Liakat Ali in the murder case of Major (Retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan.

The court also upheld the life imprisonment sentences handed down to six other accused in the case.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Saugata Hossain delivered the verdict on Monday after hearing the death reference and appeal petitions filed by the convicts.

Major Sinha was shot dead by police at the Shamlapur check-post in Teknaf on the night of July 31, 2020, while returning from filming videos for his YouTube channel in Marishbunia village.

Six days later, on August 5, Sinha’s sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a case against nine policemen, including Pradeep Kumar and Liakat Ali, with a Cox’s Bazar court.

On January 31, 2022, the Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Judge’s Court sentenced Pradeep and Liakat to death, and six others — Sub-Inspector Nanda Dulal Rakshit, Constable Rubel Sharma, ASI Sagar Deb, Nurul Amin, Nezam Uddin, and Mohammad Ayaz Uddin — to life imprisonment.

Seven other accused, including Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shahjahan and Constables Mohammad Rajib and Mohammad Abdullah, were acquitted as the charges against them were not proven.