Fifty-one eminent citizens today expressed concern and anger over clearing Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir of the charges in a case filed for abetting death by suicide of a college student in a Gulshan flat in April.

The distinguished personalities in a joint statement demand re-investigation into the incident.

"In the case of abetting suicide, Bashundhara Group's accused Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir was acquitted and the police submitted a final report to the court. We express our concern and outrage at this exemption," reads the statement.

In the statement, the noted citizens said they didn't have any information that police took him to the police station for interrogation let alone arrest the accused after filing of the case.

"In this context, there is adequate room for doubt as to whether the case has been properly investigated," the statement added.

They urge the government to properly re-investigate the case and ensure that the police ensure a proper and fair analysis of the important clues in the case (such as the deceased's diary).

"We are also requesting the government to look into whether the plaintiff in the case was fired by the Padma Bank authorities under any pressure. At the same time, we demand that the propaganda against the victim and the harassment of the plaintiff in the case be stopped and that she and her family be provided security."

The statement also added: "We believe that a proper investigation and appropriate trial of the suicide or murder incident is very essential in the interest of maintaining people's confidence in the rule of law in the country."

The government's sincerity towards the declared policy of the government to prevent violence against women can only be proved through an impartial and fair investigation against the powerful and wealthy accused in such cases, says the statement.

"We look forward to an active role from the highest level of the government to ensure an impartial, fair investigation into the incident again by immediately filing a no-confident petition in the court against the investigation report of this case," the statement also says.

Serajul Islam Choudhury, Dhaka University Professor Emeritus; Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Gonoshasthya Kendra trustee ; Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation; Sultana Kamal, human rights activist; Hossain Zillur Rahman, economist and Executive Chairman, PPRC; Ali Imam Majumder, former cabinet secretary ; Dr Hamida Hossain, human rights activist; Khushi Kabir, coordinator, Nijera Kori; Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director, Transparency International Bangladesh, Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director, Campaign for Popular Education, are among the signatories in the statement undersigned by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an eminent lawyer at the Bangladesh Supreme Court.

Police recently cleared Anvir of the charges of abetting death by suicide of college student in a Gulshan flat in April.

The officer investigating the case filed a probe report with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka on July 19.

The court set July 29 to decide whether it will accept the report.