Dhaka Court Postpones Testimony in Scrap Dealer Murder Case Amid Defense Motion

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A Dhaka court has rescheduled the testimony in the murder case of scrap metal merchant Lal Chand, also known as Mohammad Sohag, moving the proceedings to August 3. The decision was handed down Monday by the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Md. Alamgir, following a request from the defense.

The delay stems from a formal motion of no-confidence filed against the presiding judge by one of the 21 accused, Mahmudul Hasan Mahin. Defense counsel Mashrur Hossain, representing Mahin, sought a stay on all trial activities until the motion is resolved. The court acceded to the request, effectively halting the evidentiary phase of the trial until the legal challenge is addressed.

The case involves the brutal killing of the 39-year-old businessman on July 9 of last year. According to the police investigation, Lal Chand was attacked by a group of assailants near the third gate of Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford Hospital) in Old Dhaka, where he was fatally bludgeoned with stones and stabbed.

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The victim’s sister, Monjuara Begum, filed a murder case at Kotwali Police Station the following day, initially naming 19 suspects along with 15 to 20 unidentified individuals. Following an investigation by the Kotwali police, a charge sheet was submitted against 21 individuals in December. After the court ordered a reinvestigation citing procedural deficiencies, a supplementary charge sheet against the same 21 suspects was filed on May 10 by Inspector Shah Md. Faisal Ahmed.

The accused group faces varying legal statuses as the trial remains stalled. Nine suspects, including Mahin, remain in custody, while four others are currently out on bail granted by the High Court. The remaining eight defendants—Zahirul, Md. Imran, Md. Sharafat, Md. Ziauddin Rajib, Md. Hossain Chowkidar, Md. Sarowar Hossain Titu, Md. Mangal Miah, and Apu Das—are currently fugitives. Lal Chand, originally from Keraniganj, had operated his business in the Mitford area for several years prior to the attack.