Court orders DNA collection from two more former army personnel in Tonu murder case
Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of Cumilla Victoria College. Photo: Collected
A court has ordered the collection of DNA samples from two more former army personnel in the widely discussed murder case of Sohagi Jahan Tonu in Cumilla. The development was confirmed Tuesday by the case’s investigating officer, PBI Inspector Md. Tarikul Islam.
The two individuals are Jahidul Islam of Meghai village in Sirajganj district and Faisal Ahmed Rabbai of Rajapara Lakshminagar in Cumilla.
The investigating officer said that, following a police petition, Judge Mominul Haque of the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court No. 1 in Cumilla issued the order on July 17. DNA samples have recently been collected from the case’s main accused, retired Sergeant Zahiduzzaman, Warrant Officer Hafizur Rahman and soldier Shahinul Alam.
Among them, the court also ordered the issuance of Interpol Red Notices against Zahiduzzaman and Shahinul Alam. Hafizur Rahman, the only accused arrested in the case, is currently being held at Cumilla Central Jail.
On the evening of March 20, 2016, Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of Cumilla Victoria Government College and a theater activist, went missing after entering the cantonment to tutor a student. Her body was later recovered from bushes near the Power House area inside the cantonment.
Following the incident, Tonu’s father filed a murder case against unidentified suspects. Despite lengthy investigations by the local police, Detective Branch and the Criminal Investigation Department, the mystery behind the killing could not be solved. The Police Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating the case.
