Entertainment Desk: Sohail Chowdhury was one of the heroes of the golden age of Bengali cinema who was at the top of the audience. But the assassins did not let him live for long. His life ended prematurely. But his performance leaves a mark in the minds of many.
This popular hero of the 90s was shot dead by terrorists on December 18, 1998, under the Trumps Club in Abedin Tower, 17th Road, Banani, capital. Touhidul Islam Chowdhury, the brother of Sohel Chowdhury, who was killed in that incident, filed a murder case at the capital’s Gulshan police station. Even though 25 years have passed since the case began, the trial is still not over. The state party is unable to produce witnesses. The trial of the case does not end here. However, the state is hoping that the trial of the case will be completed soon and the victim’s family will get justice.
The case is currently at the hearing stage in the court of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 Judge M. Ali Ahmed. Last Sunday (December 17), the case was scheduled for testimony. But no witness appeared in court that day. For this reason, the tribunal fixed December 30 as the date for taking the next testimony.
It is known that the case was suspended by the High Court for 16 years. After that, all proceedings in the case were stopped due to the effect of the epidemic coronavirus. On August 28, 2022, after 21 years, the testimony began again.
When asked about the progress of the case, Sadia Afrin Shilpi, the lawyer for the state side of the concerned court, said that the state side is trying to settle the case quickly. If the witnesses were properly brought to court, the case would have been decided by now. Since the case is very old, it takes a lot of speed to find witnesses. So far, the court has completed the testimony of 10 people in the case. Two magistrates have already been summoned to testify.
He said that the state party has been able to prove the testimony of the witnesses against the accused. Hopefully, the court will sentence all the accused to death. Fortunately, the victim’s family will get justice.
Actor Sohail Chowdhury was married to Parveen Sultana Diti, a popular actress of the time. After a few days of marriage, their relationship broke down. At that time, Sohel Chowdhury broke down mentally. Involved in the world of addiction. At one point, he was addicted to drugs and gambling. Conflicts started with the criminals of that dark world on various issues. His life ended as a result of that conflict. Nayak Sohail Chowdhury was shot by terrorists on December 18, 1998, under the Trumps Club in Abedin Tower, Road No. 17, Banani. In that incident, Sohel Chowdhury’s brother, Touhidul Islam Chowdhury, filed a murder case at the capital’s Gulshan police station.
After the investigation of the case, on July 30, 1999, Assistant Police Commissioner Abul Kashem Bepari filed a charge sheet against nine people.
The accused in the chargesheet are Adnan Siddiqui, Trumps Club owner Afaqul Islam alias Bunty Islam, businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai alias Abdul Aziz, Tariq Saeed Mamun, Salim Khan, Haroon Or Rashid alias Leather Litton alias Boss Litton, Farooq Abbasi, top terrorist Sanjidul Islam Imon, and Ashish Roy Chowdhury alias Bottle Chowdhury.
According to court sources, on October 30, 2001, the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court of Dhaka framed charges against the accused. Two years later, the case was sent to the Dhaka speedy trial tribunal for speedy disposal. At that time, one of the accused filed a writ petition in the High Court. The bench of then Justice MA Matin and Syed Rifat Ahmad of the High Court Division suspended the proceedings of the case in the lower court for three months in that writ petition on November 19, 2003. Then, on February 17, 2004, the lower court adjourned the proceedings of the case until the disposal of the writ ruling. Then, after 21 years, the ruling was settled, and testimony started again.
According to the investigation report of the case, in a club in Banani, Sohail Chowdhury had an argument with Gile Aziz Mohammad Bhai along with his girlfriend. Excited hero Sohail Chowdhury abused Aziz Bhai in unspeakable language. Sohel Chowdhury also tried to kill Aziz Mohammad Bhai that day. A few days after the incident, the accused planned to kill Sohail Chowdhury. On the day of the murder, Sohail Chowdhury tried to enter Trump’s Club with his friends around 1 a.m. Lt. Col. (Retd.) Tofazzal Hussain, who was in charge of security, did not allow him to enter, so he went back. When Sohail tried to enter the club again after 2:30 that night, top terrorists Eamon, Mamun, Liton, Farooq Abbas, and Adnan Siddiqui fired at him, and he died on the spot.
Salim Ashraf, the lawyer for the accused, Ashish Roy Chowdhury, alias Bottle Chowdhury, said that the state has completely failed to prove the case against the accused. No witness has named Bottle Chowdhury yet. Even the plaintiff in the case did not mention the name of this accused in his statement. The accused is innocent. He has been booked in this case for harassment.
He said that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court granted bail to accused Ashish Roy Chowdhury, alias Bottle Chowdhury, on November 13. At the same time, the trial court was directed to settle the case within six months. He is currently out on bail. Hopefully, he will be acquitted in the verdict.
Lawyers for other defendants say that because the case is long, the accused are also victims. Many have suffered financially while handling the case. The lawyers also demanded a speedy settlement of the case.
