A Dhaka court on Thursday sent Ashish Roy Chowdhury alias Bottle Chowdhury, prime accused in actor Sohel Chowdhury murder case, to jail in a narcotics case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Syed Mostafa Reza Nur passed the order and fixed April 10 to hear his bail petition.
Earlier, Shamim Hossain, sub-inspector of Gulshan police station and investigation officer of the case, produced the accused before the court in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act and appealed to keep him in jail until the completion of the investigation.
Defence lawyer Selim Ashraf Chowdhury appealed for his bail.
Also Read - RAB: Actor Sohel Chowdhury killed for protesting shady activities
On Tuesday night, Ashish was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel from a house in Gulshan in Dhaka. During the arrest, bottles of foreign liquor were seized from his possession.
Jahangir Alam, deputy assistant director of RAB-10, filed the case after the seizure.
The accused was a senior official of several private airlines. Most recently, he was the chief operating officer (COO) of GMG Airlines.
On December 9, 1998, actor Sohel Chowdhury was shot dead outside the now-defunct Tramps Club, housed in Abedin Tower in Banani’s Road 17.
A murder case was filed in this regard at Gulshan police station followed by a complaint lodged by Sohel’s brother Towhidul Islam Chowdhury.
On July 30, 1999, the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police submitted a charge sheet against nine people including Ashish in this case.
On October 30, 2001, Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Session Judge’s Court framed charges against the nine. After two years of indictment, the case was transferred to the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal.
After the arrest of Ashish, RAB claimed that actor Sohel Chowdhury was killed for protesting against immoral activities.
Sohel Chowdhury used to protest against loud songs and immoral activities at the Tramps Club. Therefore, the founder of the club, Aziz Mohammad, Bunty Islam and others wanted to teach Sohel a lesson.
On July 24, 1998, Sohel Chowdhury had an argument with Aziz Mohammad Bhai at the club over various issues. Later, top terrorist Emon Chowdhury was given the responsibility to kill the actor, RAB said at a press conference in Dhaka.
The plotters had the idea that the mosque committee was doing all these being inspired by Sohel Chowdhury to disrupt the business of the club.
Accused Ashish was a fugitive for 24 years. During his interrogation, Ashish said that he and Bunty Islam had been friends since childhood. Bunty Islam was married to Aziz Mohammad Bhai's niece.
