In the murder case of film star Sohel Chowdhury, prominent businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, along with Banti Islam and Adnan Siddiqui, have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the court. Additionally, a fine of 200,000 BDT has been imposed.
On Thursday, May 9, Judge Arunava Chakraborty of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 in Dhaka announced the verdict. Previously, on April 29, Judge Arunava Chakraborty had concluded hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense, setting May 9 as the date for the verdict announcement.
The accused in the case include Afaqul Islam aka Banti Islam, owner of Tramps Club, businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai aka Abdul Aziz, Tareq Saed Mamun, Selim Khan, Harun Or Rashid aka Leather Liton, Faruk Abbasi, Adnan Siddiqui, and two top criminals Sanjidul Islam Imon and Ashish Roy Chowdhury aka Bottle Chowdhury.
Sohel Chowdhury was shot dead on December 17, 1998, at Tramps Club in Banani, Dhaka. Following his murder, his brother Touhidul Islam Chowdhury filed a case at Gulshan Police Station. Immediately after Sohel Chowdhury’s murder, allegations surfaced about the involvement of film producer and businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai.
It was alleged in the case that a few months before the murder, there was a verbal altercation between Aziz Mohammad Bhai and Sohel Chowdhury. In retaliation, Sohel Chowdhury was murdered. On the night of the incident, Sohel, along with his friends, attempted to enter Tramps Club. They were initially prevented from entering. Later, around 2:30 AM, as Sohel tried to enter again, Imon, Mamun, Liton, Faruk, and Adnan opened fire targeting him.
The investigation of the case concluded on July 30, 1999, when Assistant Commissioner of Police Abul Kashem Bepari of the Detective Police filed chargesheets against nine individuals. On October 30, 2001, the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka formed charges against the accused. Two years later, the case was transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 of Dhaka for expedited settlement. That same year, one of the accused appealed to the High Court. Following the appeal, the case was stayed by an order of the High Court from 2003 for a prolonged period of 19 years.
