Judgment in Sagira Morshed murder case on Feb 8

A Dhaka court will pronounce on February 8 the judgment in a case lodged over the murder of Sagira Morshed in capital's Bailey Road area in 1989.

Judge Mohammad Ali Hossain of Dhaka Special Sessions Judge Court set the date afters both prosecution and defence had concluded their arguments in the case on Thursday.

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 one 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 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, and they have already confessed their role in the killing of Sagira.

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.