SC asks court to complete Sohel Chy murder case in 6 months

Supreme-Court.

Jehangir Hussain 

The Appellate Division on Tuesday directed the trial court to complete the trial proceedings of actor Sohel Chowdhury’s murder case in six months.

A bench led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the government challenging the High Court Division’s order granting bail to Ashish Roy Chowdhury, a fugitive accused in a case filed over the murder of actor Sohel Chowdhury in December 1998.

The apex court also extended by six months the Appellate Division’s chamber judge's order that stayed bail granted to accused Ashish Roy Chowdhury, Assistant Attorney General Md Mozibur Rahman Samrat told reporters.

 Ashish's lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque said that his client had been implicated in the case as he was an owner of Trump Club, where Sohel Chowdhury was killed.

On December 9, 1998, actor Sohel Chowdhury was shot dead outside the now-defunct Tramp Club, housed in Abedin Tower at Road 17, Banani.

A murder case was filed in this regard at Gulshan police station and later a complaint was lodged by Sohel’s brother Towhidul Islam Chowdhury.

On July 30, 1999, the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police submitted a charge sheet against nine people including Ashish in this case.

On October 30, 2001, Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Session Judge’s Court framed the charges against nine accused.

Two years after indictment, the case was transferred to the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal.

After the arrest of Ashish, RAB claimed that actor Sohel Chowdhury was killed for protesting against immoral activities.

Sohel Chowdhury used to protest against loud songs and immoral activities at the Tramp Club. Therefore, the founder of the club, Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Bunty Islam and others wanted to teach Sohel a lesson.

 On July 24, 1998, Sohel Chowdhury had an argument with Aziz Mohammad Bhai at the club on various issues.

Later, top terrorist Emon Chowdhury was given the responsibility to kill the actor, RAB said at a press conference in Dhaka.

The plotters think that the mosque committee was doing all this inspired by Sohel Chowdhury to disrupt the business of the club.

Accused Ashish was a fugitive for 24 years.

During interrogation, Ashish said that he and Bunty Islam are childhood friends and that  

Bunty Islam is married to Aziz Mohammad Bhai's niece.

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