Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court on Thursday recorded the testimony of three more witnesses in the case filed over the murder of scrap trader Lal Chand, alias Md Sohag, near Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital, widely known as Mitford Hospital, in Old Dhaka.
Judge Md Alamgir of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-1 recorded the testimony and set 28 August for the next hearing.
Confirming the development, Bench Assistant of the court ASM Shahadat Ali said the witnesses who gave their depositions and were cross-examined are Ismail, Babul and Hasan.
Earlier, on 3 August, Monjuara, the victim Sohag’s sister and complainant in the case, submitted her deposition before the court. Including Thursday’s testimony, four witnesses have given their depositions in the case.
On 12 July, the court framed charges against 21 accused and formally initiated the trial. Among them, 10 are in custody, three are out on bail, and eight are absconding.
The accused facing trial are Md Mahmud Hasan Mahin alias Mahmudul Hasan (Mohin), Md Tarek Rahman Robin, Md Titon Gazi, Md Alamgir, Md Monir alias Lamba Monir, Md Sajib Bepari, Md Nanu Kazi, Md Rizwan Uddin alias Abhijit Basu, Md Zahirul Islam, Sagar, Md Ruman Bepari, Md Abir Hossain, Md Parvez, Md Zahirul alias Jalil, Md Imran, Md Sharafat alias Shafiul Islam, Md Ziauddin Rajib, Md Hossain Chowkidar, Md Sarwar Hossain Titu, Md Mangal Mia alias Monir Hossain, and Apu Das.
According to the case documents, Sohag, 39, son of Yusuf Ali Hawlader of Purba Namabari village under Keraniganj Model Police Station, had been running a scrap business on Rajani Ghosh Lane in the Mitford area for many years.
He was brutally hacked and repeatedly struck with stones by a group of attackers on Rajani Ghosh Lane near Mitford Hospital on 9 July 2025.
His elder sister, Monjuara Begum, filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station the following day, naming 19 people as accused and implicating another 15 to 20 unidentified individuals.
The then officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, Moniruzzaman, submitted the first charge sheet against 21 accused on 8 December 2025, while recommending the discharge of 10 others due to insufficient evidence.
However, the court found flaws in the investigation and ordered a fresh probe. Inspector Shah Md Faisal Ahmed of Kotwali Police Station submitted a supplementary charge sheet on 10 May this year, again accusing the same 21 individuals.
