A Dhaka court has sentenced three people, including businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai alias Abdul Aziz, to life imprisonment in actor Sohail Chowdhury murder case.
On Thursday (May 9), Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 Judge Arunabh Chakraborty pronounced the verdict.
However, the court acquitted six people including Sanjidul Islam Emon.
The other two convicted are Adnan Siddiqui and Trumps Club owner Afaqul Islam alias Bunti Islam.
Earlier, the tribunal has set this date to announce the verdict in a case against nine people, including businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai.
On 17 December 1998, Sohail Chowdhury was shot dead in the city’s Banani area. His brother Touhidul Islam Chowdhury filed the case at Gulshan Police Station.
The popular Dhallywood hero was killed as he tried to stop anti-social activities at Trumps Club at Banani in the capital.
The club was a safe haven for the ‘underworld’ criminals while mafia don Aziz Mohammad Bhai ran his criminal activities from it.
Sohel’s effort to stop the immoral activities there made them angry, resulting in his murder.
Director (Legal and Media Wing) of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Commander Khandaker Al Moin said this at a press briefing in the capital recently.
The officer came up with this information after the elite force arrested Ashish Roy Chowdhury alias Bottle, one of the plotters of the murder, from a house at Gulshan.
The accused was arrested 24 years after the murder had been committed.
The elite force also held two females and seized 23 bottles of foreign liquor from the residence, the RAB officer said.
During primary interrogation, Ashish said he and his friend Asadul Islam alias Banti Islam established Trumps Club at Abedin Tower in 1996.
The club was located beside the Banani Jame Mosque. The club became a safe haven for the most wanted criminals of the ‘underworld.’ The anti-social activities were committed there from dawn to dusk every day, according to the RAB officer.
Aziz Mohammad Bhai used to run his criminal activities from the club, and he had a good connection with the ‘underworld’ criminals. He held meetings with the criminals regularly there.
On the other hand, film hero Sohel Chowdhury tried to stop the unlawful activities at the club with the help of the mosque committee.
On July 24, 1998, Sohel Chowdhury was locked in a scuffle with Aziz Mohammad. To take revenge, Aziz Mohammad, Ashish and Banti plotted to kill the hero, and they asked the most wanted criminal, Sanzidul Islam Emon, to execute the plot.
Emon thought that he would not be able to carry out any unlawful activities if the club were closed. Therefore, he agreed to carry out the plot.
Earlier on December 18, 1998, Sohel was shot dead by some miscreants under the Trumps Club.
Following the incident, the victim’s brother filed a murder case with Gulshan Police Station.
After an investigation, detectives pressed charges against Aziz, Bunty, and seven others on July 30, 1999.
On October 30, 2001, Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court framed charges against them.
Two years after framing charges against the accused, the case was transferred to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 for its quick disposal.
Following a petition by an accused, the High Court stayed the proceedings of the trial in 2003. The stay on the trial proceedings was withdrawn on February 27 this year.
On March 28, the court issued arrest warrants against Ashish and some others in the case.
Ashish was trying to flee the country for Canada after the arrest warrant was issued by the court, Al Moin said.
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