Bashundhara Group MD
Munia Murder Case: IO summoned Sunday to explain inaction
The special tribunal to protect women and children in Dhaka has summoned the investigating officer of the Munia murder case to appear before it in person on Sunday to explain, to the court’s satisfaction, the lack of visible progress on four particular points of the case, including why No.1 accused Sayem Sobhan Anveer has not been arrested yet.
Bashundhara Group Managing Director (MD) Sayem Sobhan Anvir and the other seven accused in the rape-and-murder case of Mosarat Jahan Munia, a 21-year-old college student with whom Anveer was carrying on an extramarital relationship at the time of her death, in Gulshan last April. The court would also ask for the IO’s explanation on what is preventing the arrest of the others.
Besides, the court would also seek an explanation of why the DNA of Anveer (or anyone else) has not been matched with DNA samples collected from Munia’s body, room, or clothes, nor to confirm whose child she was carrying. Post-mortem report confirmed she was 2-3 weeks pregnant.
Also, police did not seize enough CCTV footage of the house where Munia lived in Gulshan and the surrounding buildings to learn who went in and out of the apartment on the day of her death, last April 26. The court will also seek explanation on this.
Read: Munia rape-murder: Model Piyasha placed on 2-day remand
The court directed the IO, PBI inspector Golam Moktar Ashraf Uddin , to appear in-person and explain these four points after a petition was filed by Advocate Masud Salahuddin, the lead counsel for Nusrat Jahan Tania, Munia’s elder sister and sole guardian in the world, who is the plaintiff in the case.
Meanwhile, former model Faria Mahabub Piyasha, the no.7 accused who became the first person to be remanded across two cases over Munia’s death, was sent back to jail on Thursday after two days in remand through the court. She was already in police custody for her involvement in an unrelated case.
The IO in his forwarding report to the court said Piyasha gave important information about the incident which was being verified.
But according to Masud Salahuddin, when Tania as the plaintiff called the IO to enquire, he told her they were having difficulty managing women officers to interrogate Piyasha satisfactorily.
“So we entered a petition with the court seeking explanation on those four points,” Masud Salahuddin told UNB.
Read: HC rejects Bashundhara MD’s anticipatory bail plea over Munia death case
It may be mentioned here that two of the accused, Ibrahim Ahmed Ripon (no.8), the owner of the flat where Munia lived (and where she was found killed), and Sabrina Sobhan (no.3), Anveer’s wife, have secured anticipatory bail from the High Court, although the same was rejected in the case of Anveer.
When Anveer’s counsel Yusuf Hossain Humayun was arguing on his behalf during the hearing on September 29, the senior judge of the bench stopped him and said "The autopsy report says there were multiple injury marks on the body. We have several other matters to hear. For now we are granting bail to one of the accused [Sabrina]."
While rejection of anticipatory bail does not necessarily compel the arrest of a person by the investigating agency, the reference to the injury marks in the court’s observation is said to be highly indicative of its own interpretation of the case.
As police continued to dither and over a week had passed, the order was passed summoning the IO to explain his actions, or inaction, on Wednesday (Oct 6) – the same date when the investigation report of PBI in the case was due, but the IO did not even show up on the court premises.
Apart from the summons to the IO, a new submission date of November 2 was also set for PBI’s investigation report.
2 years ago
Munia's death: Court accepts IO's final report clearing Bashundhara Group MD
A Dhaka court on Wednesday relieved Bashundhara Group Managing Director (MD) Sayem Sobhan Anvir from the charge of incitement to suicide of college student Mosarat Jahan Munia.Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury released him after receiving a final report from the police.
Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain, General Registration Officer of Gulshan Police Station, confirmed the release order to UNB correspondent.
Read: Munia’s sister files no-confidence petition against final investigation report
Although the plaintiff submitted a no-confidence motion against the police report the day before, it failed to sway the court's decision.Earlier on July 19, the investigating officer of the case, Gulshan Police Station officer-in-charge Abul Hasan, submitted a final report to the court seeking Anvir's release.Bashundhara MD Sayem Sobhan Anvir was not found culpable in the suicide incitement case of Munia in the final report submitted by the investigating officer, and asked for his name to be dropped.
This has been established without even taking the accused for questioning.
Munia was the married Anvir's lover, who was covering the cost of accommodating her in her posh Gulshan apartment, where he regularly visited her.
Police recovered the hanging body of Munia from the flat in Gulshan on the night of April 26. Munia's elder sister Nusrat Jahan Tania filed a case against Bashundhara Group MD Sayem Sobhan Anvir that night alleging incitement to suicide.
Read:Munia’s Death: Sister files GD after receiving death threat
There are apprehensions that that is the point at which the entire case outcome was effectively hatched. Incitement to suicide is almost impossible to prove beyond a shadow of doubt, and also easily bailable.
Police have hardly explored any other possibility - most glaringly, whether she was murdered. The entire conclusion would seem to hinge on having found Munia's body hanging by a scarf from her room's ceiling fan. Photos of the scene were leaked, and showed the dead girl's legs almost slumped and touching her bed.
There was no suicide note or even any suggestion that she wanted to kill herself, in conversations with her sister or anybody else. Rather, she was looking forward to her sister's arrival.
There had been a falling out with Anvir over the previous few days, and she would be heading back to Cumilla. This was not the first time - it had happened last year as well, when she left an apartment rented by her and Anvir in Banani, going back to Cumilla. No suicide attempt, just in case there was any history there. None.
It was only in March that Anvir had showed up in Cumilla and brought her back. But now things had gone awry again. In fact that is why her sister and cousins were coming to Dhaka anyway that day, April 26, to take her back home.
Read:Munia’s death: HC refuses to hear Bashundhara MD’s anticipatory bail plea
That morning though, Munia began to call her sister Nusrat early in the morning in a distressed state. The first call Nusrat received was around 9-9.30am. Munia was insisting that she (the sister) come earlier than planned, and that she faced some grave danger. Not that she felt like killing herself.
The two sisters spoke a few more times. It was mostly Munia enquiring if they had set off yet for Dhaka from Cumilla, trying to hurry them. The last time they spoke was around 11.30am. Nusrat arrived at the house around 3.30pm.
In those 4 hours, Munia for some reason had decided to kill herself, and gone through with it as well.
3 years ago
Munia’s sister files no-confidence petition against final investigation report
In the abetment of suicide case of college student Mosarat Jahan Munia, her sister filed a no-confidence petition in response to the police's final investigation report that exempted Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir from charges.
Nusrat Jahan Tania filed the petition Tuesday with the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury.
General Registry official, Deputy Inspector Alamghir Hossain said the court may hold a hearing on the petition on Wednesday after assessing the documents but it’s not confirmed.
On July 19, Gulshan police submitted a final investigation report on the case exempting Anvir from the charges.
Also read: Munia’s Death: Sister files GD after receiving death threat
On April 26, Munia’s sister filed a case with the Gulshan police station after her body was recovered from a flat in Gulshan.
According to the case complaint, in 2019 after being introduced through a friend Anvir started living with Munia in a Banani flat as husband-wife.
In 2020, when Anvir’s family got to know about their relationship, his mother started threatening Munia.
After that Anvir sent Munia back to her hometown Cumilla saying he will marry her later.
On March 1, 2021, Anvir rented a flat in Gulshan area and Munia was living in that flat since.
Also read: Munia’s death: HC refuses to hear Bashundhara MD’s anticipatory bail plea
On April 23, Anvir had a fall out with Munia and threatened her over posting a photo in a neighbor’s house where she went for an iftar party
On April 25, Munia had called her sister in Cumilla and confided to being "in trouble". On that basis, Nusrat Jahan came to Dhaka next day and reached her sister's flat in the evening.
As her sister didn't answer the door, she then informed the landlord, who called in the police. In the flat they found Munia's hanging body.
3 years ago
Munia’s Death: Sister files GD after receiving death threat
Nusrat Jahan, elder sister of Mosarat Jahan Munia whose body was found hanging in a Dhaka flat, has lodged a general diary after receiving death threat over mobile phone.
Nusrat, 34, daughter of late Shafiqur Rahman, a freedom fighter of Monoharpur in Cumilla district and wife of Mizanur Rahman, lodged the general diary with Kotwali Police Station on Saturday.
Read Also: Munia's death: HC refuses to hear Bashundhara MD's anticipatory bail plea
According to the GD, Nusrat has been receiving death threat and threat to withdraw the case against Bashundhara Group MD since Wednesday over mobile phone.
She received the threat from different mobile phone numbers.
On April 26, police recovered the hanging body of Mosarat Jahan Munia, 21, from a flat in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
Read Five family members of Bashundhara Group MD leave country
Following the recovery of her body, Nusrat Jahan filed a case under section 306 of Bangladesh Penal Code with Gulshan Police Station around the following day.
In the case, Nusrat Jahan made Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group, the lone accused of abetting the death of the 21-year-old college student.
Read Also: Those responsible for Muniya's death to be brought to justice: Minister
A Dhaka court on April 27 issued a travel ban on Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
On April 28, Sayem Sobhan Anvir filed a petition with the High Court, seeking anticipatory bail in the case.
The High Court on April 29 declined to hear the anticipatory bail petition.
Read Also: Young woman found dead in Gulshan; case filed against Bashundhara MD
Meanwhile, five family members Anvir and their three domestic helps left the country for Dubai on a chartered flight on April 29 night.
Sources at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport said the five family members include Anvir's wife Sabrina Sobhan, their two children, wife of Anvir's younger brother Yeasha Sobhan and their daughter.
Three domestic helps also accompanied them.
Read Muniya case: Bashundhara Group MD seeks anticipatory bail
3 years ago
Five family members of Bashundhara Group MD leave country
Five family members of Bashundhara Group's Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir and their three domestic helps left the country for Dubai on a chartered flight on Thursday night.
Sources at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport said the five family members include Anvir's wife Sabrina Sobhan, their two children, wife of Anvir's younger brother Yeasha Sobhan and their daughter.
Three domestic helps also accompanied them.
Also read: Young woman found dead in Gulshan; case filed against Bashundhara MD
"The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) gave permission to operate the chartered aircraft," said a CAAB official prefering anonymity.
He said the passengers boarded the aircraft on completion of necessary formalities.
He, however, said airport security officials were on high alert so that Sayem Sobhan Anvir cannot leave the country.
A Dhaka court on Tuesday issued a travel ban on Sayem Sobhan after the recovery of a young woman's body hanging from the ceiling at a flat in the capital on Monday.
Also read: Dhaka court imposes travel ban on Bashundhara MD over abetting suicide
The deceased was identified as Mosarat Jahan Munia, 21, daughter of late Shafiqur Rahman, a freedom fighter of Monoharpur in Cumilla district.
Following the recovery of her body, the victim's sister, Nusrat Jahan, filed a case under section 306 of Bangladesh Penal Code with Gulshan Police Station on Tuesday.
In the case, Nusrat Jahan made Sayem Sobhan Anvir the lone accused of abetting the death of the 21-year-old college student.
Also read: Bashundhara Group MD seeks anticipatory bail
On Wednesday, Anvir filed a petition with the High Court, seeking anticipatory bail in the case.
But, the High Court declined to hear the anticipatory bail petition on Thursday.
3 years ago
Muniya case: Bashundhara Group MD seeks anticipatory bail
Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir on Wednesday (April 28, 2021) filed a petition with the High Court, seeking an anticipatory bail in a case filed over abetting the suicide of a young girl whose body was recovered from a flat in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
The petition was included in the cause list for hearing at the bench of Justice Mamunur Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, court sources said.
Also read: Young woman found dead in Gulshan; case filed against Bashundhara MD
As per law, the accused must appear before court physically for hearing on an anticipatory bail plea but the accused could be connected virtually with the court during the virtual hearing.
On Monday, police recovered the hanging body of Mosarat Jahan, 21, daughter of late Shafiqur Rahman, a freedom fighter of Monoharpur in Cumilla district, from a flat in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
Also read: Dhaka court imposes travel ban on Bashundhara MD over abetting suicide
Following the recovery of her body, the victim's sister, Nusrat Jahan, filed a case under section 306 of Bangladesh Penal Code with Gulshan Police Station around 1:30 am on Tuesday.
In the case, Nusrat Jahan made Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group, as the lone accused of abetting the death of the 21-year-old college student.
Read Those responsible for Muniya’s death to be brought to justice: Minister
3 years ago
Those responsible for Muniya’s death to be brought to justice: Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday said those who will be found responsible for the death of Mosarat Jahan Muniya must be brought to justice.
The minister came up with the remark while responding to a question from reporters at his Dhanmondi residence on Wednesday.
Also read: Young woman found dead in Gulshan; case filed against Bashundhara MD
“I clearly say that everything will go as per the law…the law will take its own course. Whoever is the culprit will face the trial. So, we can say more about it only after investigation,” he added.
Police on Monday recovered the hanging body of Mosarat Jahan, 21, daughter of late Shafiqur Rahman, a freedom fighter of Monoharpur in Cumilla district, from a flat in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
Also read: Muniya’s grieving family seeks justice
Following the recovery of her body, the victim's sister, Nusrat Jahan, filed a case under section 306 of Bangladesh Penal Code with Gulshan Police Station around 1:30 am on Tuesday.
In the case, Nusrat Jahan made Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group, as the lone accused of abetting the death of the 21-year-old college student.
3 years ago
Dhaka court imposes travel ban on Bashundhara MD over abetting suicide
A Dhaka court issued a travel ban on Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir today over his alleged connection with a case filed over abetting suicide of a young girl whose body was recovered from a rented flat in Dhaka's Gulshan area last night.
The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shahidul Islam passed the order after Abul Hassan, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted a petition seeking travel ban on the Bashundhara Group MD.
Although it was granted, there were unconfirmed reports circulating Tuesday of Sobhan having left the country already on a cargo flight.
Also read: Young woman found dead in Gulshan; case filed against Bashundhara MD
Police recovered the hanging body of a young girl from a flat in the city's Gulshan area on Monday (April 26, 2021) night.
A case was filed by the victim’s sister Nusrat Jahan against Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group over instigating the victim to commit suicide under section 306 of Bangladesh Penal Code with Gulshan Police Station around 1:30 am on Tuesday (April 27, 2021).
According to Nusrat, the victim called her on Sunday, and confided to being "in trouble". On that basis, Nusrat Jahan came to Dhaka on Monday and reached her sister's flat in the evening.
After Musharrat didn't answer the door, she managed to enter the flat with help from the landlord and found her sister's hanging body and police were called in, who recovered it.
Read Palestinian student studying in Bangladesh commits suicide in Gaza
3 years ago