Court Correspondent :
A Dhaka tribunal yesterday sentenced three accused, including businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, to life-term imprisonment in the case filed over the murder of actor Sohel Chowdhury in 1998.
Two other convicts are owner of Afakul Islam alias Bunty Islam and Adnan Siddiqui. All the convicts are on the run.
Judge Arunabh Chakrabarty of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 of Dhaka pronounced the verdict at 1:15pm on Thursday.
The court also fined them Tk 2 lakh each, in default they will have to suffer six more months in the prison.
Besides, the court acquitted six other accused: Ashish Rai Choudhury alias Bottle Chowdhury, Tariq Sayeed Mamun, Faruque Abbasi, Sanzidul Hasan Emon, Selim Khan and Harun-Or-Rashid alias Leather Liton, as allegations brought against them were not proved. The court pronounced the verdict in presence of Emon and Ashish Rai in the court.
Among the accused, Emon is now in jail custody while Ashish Rai, Tariq Sayeed Mamun and Faruque Abbasi are on bail. However, Mamun and Faruque were absent submitting petitions through their lawyers during Thurday’s verdict.
In the judgment, the court said the prosecution was able to prove the charges brought against the three accused undoubtedly and they were given the punishment for committing the offences.
On December 18, 1998, actor Sohel was shot dead by some unidentified criminals at Trumps Club in Abedin Tower on Road 18 of Banani.
After an investigation, Detective Branch of police submitted the charge sheet to the court on August 2, 1999.
On October 30 of 2001, Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court framed charges against the accused.
Two years after framing charges against the accused, the case was transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 for quick disposal.
Following a petition of an accused in the case, the High Court in 2003 stayed the proceedings of the trial.
Security measures have been beefed up by police in an around Dhaka court premises area ahead of the verdict in the Sohel Chowdhury murder case.
Additional police forces have been deployed in front of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2.
During the trial on April 29, 10 prosecution witnesses testified in the court.
On December 18, 1998, Sohel Chowdhury was shot dead by some unidentified criminals at Trumps Club in Abedin Towera on Road 18 of Banani.
After investigation, Detective Branch of police submitted the charge sheet to the court on August 2, 1999. On October 30, 2001, Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court framed charges against the accused.
Following a petition of an accused, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court in 2003 stayed the proceedings of the case, which was later withdrawn.