A Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced two people to life term imprisonment and acquitted three others in a case lodged over the murder of Sagira Morshed in capital’s Siddheswari area in 1989. At the same time, the court fined the convicts Tk 50,000 each, in default of which, they would have to spend six more month in prison. Judge Mohammad Ali Hossain of Dhaka Special Sessions Judge Court passed the order on Wednesday. The accused who got life imprisonment are Anas Mahmud alias Rezwan and Maruf Reza. The acquitted people are Sagira’s brother-in-law Dr Hasan Ali Chowdhury, his wife Sayedatul Mahmuda alias Shahin and Montu Morol. Sagira Morshed, 34, was gunned down by unidentified muggers in front of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital’s Bailey Road on July 25, 1989.
Sagira’s husband Salam Chowdhury filed the case on that day with Ramna Police Station against unidentified miscreants. A rickshaw puller present at the crime scene identified two of the killers, but police had filed the initial charge sheet against Montu.
Dhaka First Additional Sessions Judge Abu Bakar Siddique on January 17, 1991, framed charges against Montu and testimonies of seven witnesses were also recorded.
But during the hearing, the prosecution alleged the name of Maruf Reza, close relative of then home minister Mahmudul Hasan, came up during the investigation and he was also arrested. But his name was dropped from the charge sheet.
Following a plea of the prosecution, the court on May 23, 1991, ordered for further investigation. But the proceeding of the case was stayed by the High Court as Maruf Reza filed a petition, challenging the further investigation order.
The High Court on June 26, 2019, cleared way for continuing the murder case as it dismissed the rule that had stayed the trial proceedings.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order, asking PBI to conduct further investigation into the case and complete it within 60 working days.
PBI, after that, arrested the four, Sagira’s brother-in-law Dr Hasan Ali Chowdhury, his wife Sayedatul Mahmuda, Mahmuda’s brother Anas Mahmud alias Rezwan and contract killer Maruf Reza.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court on December 2, 2021, framed charges against the four. A Total of 17 witnesses testified in the case on different hearing dates.