Detectives have nearly completed the investigation into the sensational murder of college student and theatre activist Sohagi Jahan Tonu who was killed after allegedly being raped inside Comilla's Maynamati Cantonment on March 20.
Criminal Investigation Department's Special Superintendent Abdul Kahar Akand, who is coordinating the investigation, yesterday said that they were hopeful of reaching a conclusion soon.
“We have quizzed a number of people and are now scrutinising the information,” he told reporters in Comilla.
The CID officers yesterday interrogated four people – Tonu's uncle Alal Hossain, aunt Sajeda Begum, UP Member Nazrul Islam, and Jidni, the friend of an army officer’s son Piar Ahmed who used to sexually harass Tonu. Piar was earlier quizzed by the CID, RAB and police.
Asked why they were questioning Tonu’s family members repeatedly, Kahar said: “They are the victim’s family. We quizzed them for the sake of investigation.”
Dr Nazmul Karim Khan, special superintendent of Comilla CID, yesterday confirmed that the murder had taken place inside the cantonment.
He also said that Dr Sharmin Sultana, who had conducted the first post-mortem examination, was quizzed by the investigators on Tuesday about what she saw on the body.
Earlier, Tonu’s family members including her elderly parents, brothers and a cousin were picked up from their house several times by different intelligence agencies and asked almost the same questions.
The investigators have so far interrogated some 50 people in connection with the sensational murder that created huge agitation across the country while Bangladeshis living abroad have also been demonstrating for immediate arrest of the culprits and their exemplary punishment.
Tonu, a second-year history student of Comilla Victoria Government College and theatre activist, was found dead near her home inside the Maynamati Cantonment on March 20. Tonu’s father Yaar Hossain, an office assistant of the Cantonment Board who lives inside the cantonment with his family, filed the murder case.
Yaar Hossain has expressed disappointment over question patterns during interrogation.
He earlier told the Dhaka Tribune: “I was asked the same type of questions repeatedly. I am the plaintiff of the case but it seems that I am the accused. They [law enforcers] asked: Why did we not marry her off? Did Tonu have any affair? How would she spend the money she earned from tuitions?”
The Criminal Investigation Department is investigating the case. CID officials who are now waiting for the second post-mortem report recently said that at least three people killed Tonu in a planned manner and dumped her body inside a bush in the cantonment area.
The first post-mortem did not find any evidence of rape and the doctors also failed to ascertain the reason behind her death, police said.
Earlier, RAB and local police investigated the case but failed to unearth the mystery. The RAB members were criticised for taking away grass and earth from the spot where Tonu’s body had been found.
Meanwhile, women rights activists from a protest rally in Comilla town yesterday condemned the unnecessary delay in the investigation.
The rally, organised by Protibadi Nari at Pubali Chattor, was attended by people from all walks of life. Rights activists Shah Mohammad Alamgir Khan, Prof Lokman Hakim, Dilnashi Mohsen and Yeasmin Rima spoke at the event.
On the other hand, several platforms of student bodies have declared to observe countrywide shutdown on April 25 demanding quick arrest and exemplary punishment to Tonu’s killers.
Their other demands are stopping rape of women and children in the hills and plains; reinstating death penalty for rape; implementing the anti-sexual harassment guidelines; ensuring social dignity, equality and safety of the women; taking effective measures to stop pornography and drug addiction; and stopping representation of women as products.
Petition seeking judicial inquiry dropped
Once again, the High Court has dropped a writ petition seeking judicial inquiry into the murder of Tonu and paying her family Tk30 lakh as compensation.
The bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Md Salim dropped it from the hearing list yesterday. The petitioner, Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond, was absent during the hearing. Later he told reporters that he had not expected that the court would hold a hearing.
On Monday, another bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil did not entertain the petition as an investigation into the case was already under way. Eunus then moved the petition to another bench.
The petitioner also prayed to the court seeking a rule asking the government to explain as to why its inaction to arrest Tonu’s killers should not be declared illegal.
Sunday, July 19, 2026
