Court Orders DNA Testing for Two More Suspects in Sohagi Jahan Tonu Murder Case
A Comilla court has ordered the collection of DNA samples from two additional suspects in connection with the 2016 murder of college student and theater activist Sohagi Jahan Tonu. The directive, issued by Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Muminul Haque on July 16, marks a significant development in the high-profile investigation that has remained unresolved for years.
The individuals identified for DNA profiling are former army member Zahidul Islam and Faisal Ahmed, also known as Rabbi. According to court records, Zahidul, a resident of Sirajganj, has long been a person of interest named by Tonu’s family, though he had not previously appeared in official case files. He was stationed at the Comilla Cantonment at the time of the victim’s death. Faisal Ahmed is a resident of Comilla’s South Sadar area.
The decision followed an application filed by Inspector Tariqul Islam of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), the lead investigator on the case. In his petition, the investigator noted that previous analysis of DNA evidence recovered from Tonu’s clothing confirmed the presence of genetic material belonging to multiple unidentified men. The court determined that comparing this evidence with the profiles of these two suspects is essential to ensuring a fair and transparent investigation.
The PBI has been tasked with collecting blood samples from both individuals to facilitate the comparative analysis. In its ruling, the court emphasized the gravity of the case and the importance of leveraging forensic technology to identify the perpetrators.
This latest court order follows similar measures taken earlier this year. In April, the court authorized the collection of DNA samples from three other suspects, including retired Senior Warrant Officer Hafizur Rahman, who was arrested in Dhaka and is currently being held in Comilla Central Jail. Additionally, the court issued arrest warrants in June for two other former military personnel, Sergeant Zahiduzzaman and soldier Shahin Alam, and directed Interpol to issue red notices for them.
Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of the history department at Comilla Victoria Government College, disappeared on the evening of March 20, 2016, while returning from a private tutoring session inside the Comilla Cantonment area. Her body was discovered shortly thereafter in a wooded area near the cantonment’s power house. Medical evidence suggested she had been raped and murdered. Despite the passage of eight years, the identity of the killers remains unknown, prompting the ongoing efforts by investigators to utilize forensic data to reach a breakthrough.
When contacted, Inspector Tariqul Islam confirmed that the PBI is proceeding with the court’s directives but declined to provide further details, stating that the investigation is a high-priority matter and that the findings will be shared upon its conclusion.
