HC orders to finish trial of 32-year old Seema murder case in 3 months

The High Court today directed the trial court concerned to finish within three months the trial proceedings of the much-discussed 32-year old murder case of Seema Mohammadi in Dhaka.

Seema Mohammadi (20), was reportedly stabbed to death by Mohammad Ahmed alias Amin, at her residence in Jagannath Saha Road 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 against Amin.

The murder case has reportedly been pending with Jana Nirapatta Bighnokari Aporadh Daman Tribunal (Public Safety Violation Offence Prevention Tribunal) of Dhaka for the last 32 years.

The tribunal could not finish the trial proceedings of the case as Dr Md Anwar Hossain, the doctor who conducted the post mortem of Seema, did not appear before the tribunal for giving his statement, although the court has directed him to do so for several times.

Dr Anwar Hossain is now working at a private medical university after retirement, according to a news report published by the Daily Jugantor on October 6.

Following the news report, the HC today ordered judge of the tribunal, Chamon Begum Chowdhury, to finish the trial proceedings of the case even without the statement of Dr Anwar Hossain in three months, and to submit a report to the court after complying with the order.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also asked the law ministry to take departmental action against the tribunal judge if it does not finish the trial of the case in three months and submit the compliance report.

The HC bench came up with the order on a suomuto (voluntary) move after Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hasan placed the newspaper report before the judges for necessary directives on the issue today.

Lawyer Ishrat Hasan told The Daily Star that Seema's mother Ijhar Mohammadi has died and she could not see the punishment of her daughter's killer.

Accused killer Mohammad Ahmed is now on the run after he secured bail in the case, Ishrat added.