Finish Seema murder trial in 3 months: HC

The High Court yesterday directed the trial court concerned to finish in three months the trial proceedings of a 32-year-old murder case.

Seema Mohammadi (20) was reportedly stabbed dead by one Mohammad Ahmed at her residence in Dhaka on April 26, 1988 as she did not agree to marry him. The following day, Seema's mother Ijhar Mohammadi filed a murder case with the police station concerned.

The case has reportedly been pending with Jana Nirapatta Bighnokari Aporadh Daman Tribunal of Dhaka for 32 years.

The tribunal could not finish the trial proceedings as Dr Md Anwar Hossain, who conducted the autopsy, did not appear before it to give statement although the court has directed him for several times.

Dr Anwar is now working at a private medical university after he retired, according to a report published in daily Jugantor on October 6.

Following the news report, the HC yesterday ordered tribunal judge Chamon Begum Chowdhury to finish the trial even without the physician's statement in three months and to submit a compliance report.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also asked the law ministry to take departmental actions against the tribunal judge if it does not comply with the order.

The bench came up with the suomuto order after lawyer Ishrat Hasan placed the newspaper report before the judges yesterday.

Ishrat told The Daily Star the accused is on the run after securing bail.