BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday voiced anger over the verdict in Feni madrasah student Nusrat Jahan Rafi murder case as he said the accused cops have gone unpunished. "As they (govt) are dependent on the police, they're exempting police personnel from punishment for co mmitting such crimes. The verdict has exposed that," he said.

The BNP leader further said, "The current government is not an elected one, and it lacks people's mandate. So, they've been staying in power by force by resorting to such criminal cats."

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning home from Australia.

Earlier in the day, a tribunal in Feni sentenced 16 people to death for their involvement in Nusrat murder.

Nusrat was set on fire on April 6 last on the roof of a madrasah she attended, allegedly by people loyal to principal Sirajuddoula whom she had accused of sexually harassing her. Nusrat succumbed to her injuries four days later at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Fakhrul, who was out of the country as he had been to Singapore and Australia, said he received treatment in Singapore for two days, and then went to Australia. "You all know my elder daughter lives in Australia. I took leave from the party to spend some days with them (daughter's family).