Actor Sohel murder: Aziz Mohammad Bhai, 2 others sentenced to life; 6 acquitted
Sohel Chowdhury was shot and killed on 18 December 1998, in the capital's Banani area
A Dhaka court has sentenced businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, former Trump Club owner Afakul Islam alias Banti Islam and Adnan Siddiqui to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of actor Sohel Chowdhury 25 years ago.
The three, all absconding, have also been fined Tk2 lakh, nonpayment of which will add a month's imprisonment to their sentence.
Judge Arunabh Chakraborty of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 announced this verdict today (9 May), acquitting six other accused in the case as the prosecution failed to prove charges brought against them.
The six acquitted are Selim Khan, Sanjidul Islam Emon, Ashish Roy Chowdhury alias Bottle Chowdhury, Tarek Sayeed Mamun, Harun Ur Rashid alias Leather Liton alias Boss Liton and Faruk Abbasi.
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Sanjidul Islam Emon who was in prison was presented in court during the verdict. Ashish Roy Chowdhury, Tareq Sayeed Mamun and Faruk Abbasi appeared in court but Bottle Chowdhury was absent.
The defence hearing in the case ended on 11 February. Earlier, the court declared the end of recording testimony on 28 January as no witness came to the court to testify. The court has heard the testimony of 10 people in the case.
Sohel Chowdhury was shot and killed on 18 December 1998, in the capital's Banani area and his brother Touhidul Islam filed the case with Gulshan police station the next day.
Police on 30 July 1999, filed a charge sheet against nine. Dhaka's Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-3 framed charges in the case on 30 October 2001.
The case was later transferred to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 for further proceedings.
Following a petition filed by accused Adnan, the High Court in 2004 stayed the proceedings of the trial and it remained that way for 18 years.
On 27 February 2022, the stay on the case proceedings was withdrawn.
According to the charge sheet of the case, Sohel Chowdhury's strong opposition to the anti-social activities rampant within Trumps Club allegedly ignited a bitter feud with Aziz Mohammad Bhai. As tensions escalated, the stage was set for a tragic confrontation that would ultimately claim Sohel Chowdhury's life.
Sohel along with the local mosque management committee tried to shut the club down, but failed.
In July, 1998, a brawl even broke out between Sohel and Aziz, alongside two others.
On the day of the murder, Sohel was barred from entering the club. When he tried again around 3:00am, he was shot dead
