Actor sohel murder: Trial finally begins after two decades

The trial of the Sohel Chowdhury murder case began yesterday -- two long decades after the popular film actor was gunned down in the capital's Banani.

Judge Md Zakir Hossain of Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 recorded the statement of Towhidul Islam Chowdhury, brother of the victim and also the plaintiff, for over an hour and half.

In his statement, Towhidul sought justice for his brother's murder.

After that, the defence for two of the accused -- Sanzidul Islam Emon and Adnan Siddiqui-- cross-examined the witness on different points.

Towhidul narrated what he had heard from the victim's driver Md Selim, who was with Sohel when he was shot dead on the night of December 18, 1998.

Selim first informed the then security guard of Towhidul's house. Around 4:00am, the guard told him that a gang had shot Sohel at the Trumps Club in Abedin Tower in Dhaka's Banani Road-17.

"Then I went to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where on-duty doctors informed me that my brother was dead.

"They asked me to return to the hospital at 11:00am to receive the body, which was handed over to me after an inquest and post-mortem report."

Based on the details from Selim, Towhidul filed a case with Gulshan Police Station against nine people.

"Before I filed the case, Selim told me that after the incident, the on-duty policemen and locals caught Adnan Siddiqui red-handed from the spot."

During yesterday's hearing, three accused -- Ashish Rai Choudhury, Tariq Sayeed Mamun and Emon, now behind bars, were produced before the tribunal.

Of the other accused, Adnan and Faruque Abbasi were earlier exempted from personal appearance at the tribunal, while businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai and owner of Trumps Club Afakul Islam alias Bunty Islam, Selim Khan and Harun-Or-Rashid alias Leather Liton are now absconding.

The judge yesterday fixed August 30 for the next hearing.

After Sohel's murder, the Detective Branch of Police conducted an investigation and submitted a charge sheet to the court on August 2, 1999.

On October 30, 2001, Dhaka's Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court framed the charges against the nine.

Two years later, the case was transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 for its quick disposal.

Following a petition of an accused, the High Court in 2003 stayed the trial proceedings.