PBI gets 2 months for further probe into Sagira Morshed murder

Deceased Sagira Morshed Salam. Photo: Collected
Deceased Sagira Morshed Salam. Photo: Collected

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday gave two months more to Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) for completing further investigation of the murder case of Sagira Morshed Salam, who was shot dead in front of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in city in 1989.

A HC bench comprising justice M Enayetur Rahim and justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order responding to a PBI plea for more time, reports BSS.

Deputy attorney general Sarwar Hossain Bappi placed the petition before the HC on behalf of the state.

On 26 June, the HC cleared the way for continuing the 30-year-old murder case dismissing a rule that had stayed the trial proceedings and asked the PBI to conduct further investigation into the case and complete it within 60 working days.

The case was lodged by Sagira’s husband Salam Chowdhury on that day with Dhaka’s Ramna police station against unidentified miscreants over the murder of Sagira Morshed, 34, who was gunned down by unidentified muggers in front of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital’s Bailey Road on 25 July 1989.

A rickshaw puller, present on the crime scene, identified two of the killers, but police filed charge sheet against one, Montu.

Dhaka first additional sessions judge court on 17 January 1991, framed charges against Montu and testimonies of seven witnesses were also recorded.

But during the hearing, the prosecution alleged that 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 23 May 1991, ordered further investigation into the crime. But the proceedings of the case were stayed by the High Court for six months as Maruf Reza filed a petition, challenging the further investigation order.

The last investigation officer of the case recently drew attorney general office’s attention to the case and the state then finally took initiative to vacate the stay.