Court assigns CID to further probe in Hadi murder case

A Dhaka court ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct further investigation and submit a report in the murder case of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, expressing dissatisfaction with the initial probe.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order in the afternoon on on Thursday (January 15), according to DMP Prosecution Division Deputy Commissioner Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan.

The case was initially investigated by the Detective Branch (DB) of police. However, the complainant, Inqilab Mancha member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, filed a no-confidence (naraji) petition, alleging that the investigation was incomplete and flawed. After hearing the petition, the court reassigned the probe to the CID.

During the hearing, Hadi’s lawyer, Mostafizur Rahman Mukul, argued that the charge sheet failed to establish links between the alleged masterminds of the killing and the shooters. He told the court that Hadi was not an ordinary individual and that the murder was the result of a broader, premeditated conspiracy.

“The killing was carried out in public to instil fear and silence voices opposing fascism and domination,” Mukul said, adding that naming only one ward-level Awami League councillor in the charge sheet was “absurd” given the gravity of the crime.

He also questioned how the assailants managed to escape safely after a daylight shooting, noting that the issue was not adequately addressed in the charge sheet. The naraji petition, he said, was filed in the interest of ensuring justice.

In the preliminary charge sheet, DB Inspector Faisal Ahmed accused 17 people in connection with the murder. The prime accused is Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Dawud. Other accused include his associate Alamgir Hossain; former Dhaka North Jubo League ward councillor Taijul Islam Chowdhury Bappi; Philip Snal Philips; Mukti Akhter; and Faisal’s sister Jasmine Akhter. All six are currently absconding.

The remaining 11 accused are in custody, including Faisal’s parents Md Humayun Kabir and Mosa Hasi Begum; his wife Saheda Parvin Samia; girlfriend Maria Akhter Lima; brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Sipu; businessman Mufti Md Nuruzzaman Nomani alias Ujjal; close associate Md Kabir; Sibion Diu; Sanjay Chisim; Md Aminul Islam alias Raju; and Md Faisal, who was arrested in Narsingdi with weapons.