Tonu murder: Investigation officer summoned to Cumilla court

The widely discussed Sohagi Jahan Tonu murder case in Comilla is taking a new turn. Due to the slow progress of the investigation, a court in Comilla has summoned the investigation officer, Inspector Md Tarikul Islam of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Dhaka, on Monday, 6 April.

Tonu’s family, who have been seeking justice for ten long years, are hoping for a breakthrough.

Recently, the concerned court in Comilla sent a letter to the PBI requesting an update on the case. Following this, the investigation officer is expected to appear in court on Monday to provide a written explanation.

Inspector Md Tarikul Islam confirmed that the court has inquired about the progress of the investigation. He said that various observations regarding the investigation would be presented in court, but no charge sheet would be filed at this stage.

Tonu’s father and complainant, Iyar Hossain, expressed frustration and disappointment over the failure to identify the murderer even after a decade. He said, “It has been ten years since my daughter was killed. I have given testimony countless times in different places, but we have yet to see any results. I hope the new government ensures that I at least witness justice for my daughter before I die.”

The investigation officer confirmed that he will appear in court in person following the summons.

Earlier, on the evening of 20 March 2016, Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of Victoria Government College and a theatre activist, went missing while attending tuition classes in the Comilla Cantonment area. Her body was found the next day near the power house in the cantonment’s forest area. In response, Tonu’s father filed a murder case against unidentified suspects at Comilla Kotwali Model Police Station.

Initially, the local police investigated the case, which was later transferred to the DB and CID. Due to the lack of visible progress, the case was handed over to the PBI on 21 October 2020. Currently, it is under the supervision of the sixth investigation officer. On 7 April last year, the PBI conducted the most recent site inspection and recorded the complainant’s statement.

The court’s fresh summons of the investigation officer has reignited hope for Tonu’s family and the public. Residents of Comilla are now closely awaiting the court’s next directives.