A Dhaka court has accepted the charge sheet against four accused for their alleged involvement in the murder of Sagira Morshed 30 years ago.
Judge KM Imrul Kayes of the Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge's Court day took the charge sheet into cognizance on Monday, in presence of the four accused.
The court also fixed March 15 for holding hearing on charge farming against the four.
The four accused are Sagira’s brother-in-law Dr Hasan Ali Chowdhury, his wife Sayedatul Mahmud alias Shahin, Shahin’s brother Anas Mahmud alias Rejwan and their hired killer Maruf Reza.
During the hearing, Sagira’s husband Abdus Salam Chowdhury was also present in the court.
Sagira, 34, was shot dead by a hired assailant in Dhaka’s Siddheswari area on July 23, 1989, when she was returning home with her daughter, after picking her from school.
Sagira’s husband Abdus Salam Chowdhury filed a case with Ramna police station over the murder.
The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) began investigating the case on July 7, 2019.
Later in November last year, PBI arrested the four for their alleged involvement with the murder.
Three decades after the murder, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted charges against the four people on January 16 this year.
Why did it take 30 years?
Maruf Reza, now a housing businessman and resident of Bailey Road, was the nephew of the then home minister Maj Gen (retd) Mahmudul Hasan, said some officials seeking anonymity.
According to PBI, the Detective Branch (DB) of Police submitted a charge sheet accusing Mintu alias Montu in connection with the murder in September 1990.
Later when court granted the prayer of the assistant public prosecutor (APP) for further investigation in the case, Maruf Reza filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the court order.
A total of 26 police officers investigated the case from 1990 to 2019.
On July 11, 2019, the High Court dismissed the writ and directed the PBI to submit a report after thorough investigation.
In a press briefing this January, Deputy Inspector General of PBI Banaj Kumar Majumder disclosed that Dr Hasan gave Tk,15000 to Maruf after the murder and the rest of the money has not been paid yet.
Maruf has been trying to take advantage of the juvenile delinquency factor in the case, citing his age on August 29, 1972 on his NID card. But the PBI found Maruf’s real age after investigation, his date of birth being March 10, 1971. When the killing happened, Maruf was 18 years 4 month 15 days old.