Sohel Chowdhury murder: Aziz Mohammad Bhai, 2 others get life

A Dhaka court has sentenced businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai alias Abdul Aziz, Trump Club owner Afakul Islam alias Banti Islam and Adnan Siddiqui to life imprisonment in connection with a case filed over the murder of actor Sohel Chowdhury.

The court meanwhile acquitted six other accused in the case.

Judge Arunabh Chakraborty of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal pronounced the verdict on Thursday (9 May), 25 years after the murder.

The convicts, Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Afakul Islam, and Adnan Siddiqui are absconding.

While of the six acquitted persons, Selim Khan, Harun Ur Rashid alias Leather Liton alias Boss Liton are still absconding, and Ashish Roy Chowdhury alias Bottle Chowdhury, Tarek Sayeed Mamun and Faruk Abbasi are on bail. Besides, Sanjidul Islam Emon is in prison.

Sohel Chowdhury was shot and killed on 18 December 1998, in the capital's Banani area and his brother Touhidul Islam filed the case with Gulshan Police Station the next day. Police on 30 July 1999, filed a charge-sheet against nine and Dhaka 3rd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court on 30 October 2001, had framed charges in the case.

The case was later transferred to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 for further proceedings.

Following a petition filed by accused Adnan, the High Court in 2004 stayed the proceedings of the trial and it remained that way for 18 years. On 27 February 2022, the stay on the case proceedings was withdrawn.