Staff Correspondent:
A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced three people to life imprisonment and acquitted six others in the case filed over the murder of superstar Sohel Chowdhury 25 years ago. The court sentenced businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai alias, Abdul Aziz, Trump Club owner Afakul Islam alias Bunty Islam, and Adnan Siddiqui to life imprisonment. All three of them are absconding now.
The six acquitted persons are — Ashish Rai Choudhury, Tariq Sayeed Mamun, Faruque Abbasi, Sanzidul Islam Emon, Selim Khan, and Harun-Or-Rashid alias Leather Liton — as allegations brought against them were not proven.
Judge Arunabh Chakraborty of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 delivered the verdict at 1:15 pm.
Five of the nine accused in the case are absconding now. They are businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai alias Abdul Aziz, Trump Club owner Afakul Islam alias Bunty Islam, Salim Khan, Harun Or Rashid alias Leather Litton alias Boss Litton and Adnan Siddiqui. Also, accused Ashish Roy Chowdhury alias Bottle Chowdhury, Tariq Saeed Mamun, and Faruk Abbasi are on bail. And Sanjidul Islam Imon is in prison.
According to the documents of the case and the information of the state party, on December 17, 1998, actor Sohel was shot dead by some unidentified criminals at Trump’s Club in Abedin Tower on road 18 at Banani. In this incident, his brother Touhidul Islam Chowdhury filed a case in the Gulshan police station. Later, the investigation by the Detective Police (DB) revealed that hired killers killed Sohel Chowdhury due to a dispute with the businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Trump Club owner Banti Islam and Ashish Roy Chowdhury.
After an investigation, the Detective Branch of Police 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 charges against them. Two years after framing charges against the accused, the case was transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 for its quick disposal.