ZCZC
BSS-16
HEARING-MURDER-SAGIRA
Hearing of Sagira Morshed murder trial adjourned till Mar 8
DHAKA, Feb 28, 2021 (BSS) – A Dhaka court today adjourned till March 8 the
hearing of a case lodged over sensational murder of housewife Sagira Morshed
in capital’s Bailey Road area in 1989.
Acting judge of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Robiul Alam passed
the order as one of the accused Sayedatul Mahmuda alias Shahin, who is in
bail, did not appear before the court today.
Allowing a time plea of the defence, the court adjourned the hearing till
March 8.
Earlier on December 2, 2020, the court framed charges against four persons
including 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.
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.
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 the then home minister Mahmudul Hasan, came into light
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 further the
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/ARS/1630 hrs