Sagira Murder: Court accepts charges against 4
A Dhaka court yesterday took cognizance of charges against four accused in connection with the murder of Sagira Morshed, who was shot dead in July 1989.
After scrutinising all the documents, Judge KM Imrul Kayes of Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka accepted the charges.
The court also fixed March 12 for holding hearing on charge framing against the accused -- Sagira's brother-in-law Dr Hasan Ali Chowdhury, his wife Sayedatul Mahmuda alias Shaheen, brother-in-law (wife's brother) Anas Mahmud alias Rezwan and alleged hitman Maruf Reza.
Another accused Minto alias Mantoo alias Moron was earlier charged and trial was partly held against him. On January 17 in 1991, a Dhaka court framed charges against him.
Meanwhile, three of the accused, except for Maruf Reza, submitted a petition seeking permission to withdraw their confessional statements.
But, the court kept the petition without passing any order on the issue.
All the accused, now in jail, were produced before the court during yesterday's hearing.
On January 16 this year, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Inspector Md Rafiqul Islam submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.
During investigation, all the four accused gave confessional statements before magistrates narrating the incident.
Earlier on June 26 last year, the HC directed the trial court to complete its trial within 90 days of the day of framing charges against the accused.
On July 25, 1989, Sagira (34) was going to Viqarunnisa Noon School on Bailey Road by a rickshaw to pick her daughter up. She, however, could not do so as muggers shot her dead in front of the school.
Later Sagira's husband Abdus Salam Chowdhury filed a case accusing some unnamed people with Ramna Police Station same day. But, trial of the case remained halted for 28 years, following a High Court order.
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