Court orders re-investigation

A Dhaka court yesterday ordered further investigation into the death of four-year-old Jihad who died after falling into a deep well last year.

It also asked detective police to submit a complete report after the victim's father Fakir filed a no-confidence petition against the investigation.

Fakir alleged that Shahjahanpur Police Sub-Inspector Abu Zafar left out four Bangladesh Railway officials from the charge-sheet despite having evidence of their culpability in primary investigation.

The officials are the general manager of Bangladesh Railway and its three engineers.

Jihad fell into the abyss, some 40 yards from his house at Bangladesh Railway Colony in the capital, while playing with friends. His body was pulled out by a band of indomitable volunteers the following day, around 15 minutes after the fire service called off a near 23-hour search in the 17-inch diameter abandoned shaft.

Two people -- Jahangir Alam, a senior sub-assistant engineer of the railway, and Abdus Salam, a railway contractor who installed the well -- were charged with negligent homicide of Jahid on May 21. Jahangir is on the run and Salam is in jail.