ZCZC
BSS-23
HEARING-MURDER-SAGIRA
Testimony in Sagira Morshed murder trial starts
DHAKA, Jan 11, 2021 (BSS) – A Dhaka court today recorded testimony in part
of first prosecution witness (PW) in a case lodged over sensational murder of
housewife Sagira Morshed in capital’s Bailey Road area in 1989.
Abdus Salam Chowdhury, plaintiff in the case and also the husband of the
victim, started submitting his testimony as the PW-1 at the court of Dhaka
Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Qayesh, but failed to complete his
deposition by the end of today’s proceedings.
The court after that adjourned the hearing of the case till January 20.
Earlier on December 2, 2020, the court framed charges against four persons
including the elder brother of Sagira Morshed’s husband. The court indicted
Sagira’s brother-in-law Dr Hasan Ali Chowdhury, his wife Sayedatul Mahmuda,
Mahmuda’s brother Anas Mahmud alias Rezwan and contract killer Maruf Reza.
Earlier on March 9, 2020, the court accepted charge sheet against four
accused, filed by investigation officer and Police Bureau of Investigation
(PBI) inspector Rafikul Islam on January 16. The IO filed 1,309 page charge-
sheet, accusing the four for the murder.
Sagira Morshed, 34, was gunned down by unidentified muggers in front of
Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital’s Bailey Road on July 25,
1989.
Sagira’s husband Abdus Salam Chowdhury filed the case on that day with
Ramna Police Station against unidentified miscreants. A rickshaw puller
present at the crime scene identified two of the killers, but police had
filed the initial charge sheet against one Montu.
Dhaka First Additional Sessions Judge Abu Bakar Siddique on January 17,
1991, framed charges against Montu and testimonies of seven witnesses were
also recorded.
But during the hearing, the prosecution alleged the name of Maruf Reza,
close relative of then home minister Mahmudul Hasan, came up during the
investigation and was also arrested. But his name was dropped from the charge
sheet.
Following a plea of the prosecution, the court on May 23, 1991, ordered
for further investigation. But the proceeding of the case was stayed by the
High Court as Maruf Reza filed a petition, challenging the further
investigation order.
But the High Court on June 26, 2019, cleared way for continuing the murder
case as it dismissed the rule that had stayed the trial proceedings.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and
Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order, asking PBI to conduct further
investigation in the case and complete it within 60-working days.
PBI after that arrested the four and they have already confessed their
role in the killing of Sagira.
BSS/ASG/CORR/MHR/FI/ 1724 hrs