Tonu murder: Court orders DNA tests for 2 more suspects, including an ex-member of army
The court also ordered Interpol Red Notices against two key suspects as investigators continue efforts to match DNA evidence recovered from Tonu's clothing.
A court in Cumilla has ordered the collection of DNA samples from two more suspects, including a former army member, as part of the investigation into the rape and murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of Cumilla Victoria Government College.
The two suspects are former soldier Jahidul Islam, son of Solaiman Hossain of Meghai village in Sirajganj, and Faisal Ahmed Rabbi, son of MA Hannan of Rajapara Lakshminagar in Cumilla.
The development was confirmed today (21 July) by the case's investigating officer, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Inspector Md Tarikul Islam.
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He said Cumilla Senior Judicial Magistrate Court No 1 Judge Muminul Haque issued the order on 17 July after the PBI sought permission to collect the DNA samples.
"Considering the needs of the investigation, we applied to the court, and it granted permission to collect the DNA samples," Tarikul Islam said.
Earlier, on 6 April, the court ordered a cross-match between DNA profiles recovered from Tonu's clothing and those of three other suspects – retired Sergeant Zahiduzzaman, retired senior warrant officer Md Hafizur Rahman and former soldier Shahinul Alam.
The court has also ordered Interpol Red Notices against two prime suspects in the case – retired sergeant Zahiduzzaman and former soldier Shahinul Alam.
According to investigators, Shahinul fled to Kuwait, while the whereabouts of Zahiduzzaman remain unknown. Hafizur Rahman, the only accused arrested so far, is currently in Cumilla Central Jail.
Investigators previously found DNA belonging to three unidentified individuals on Tonu's clothing, but the profiles remained unmatched for years.
The latest DNA tests are part of the PBI's renewed efforts to identify those linked to the evidence recovered from the victim.
Tonu, a student of Cumilla Victoria Government College and a theatre activist, went missing on the evening of 20 March 2016 after going to the Cumilla Cantonment area to provide private tuition. Her body was recovered the following day from a jungle near the cantonment power house.
Her father filed a murder case with Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station against unidentified persons.
The investigation was initially handled by local police, the Detective Branch (DB) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), but none of the agencies could solve the case.
On 21 October 2020, Police Headquarters transferred the investigation from the CID to the Police Bureau of Investigation.
PBI Inspector Md Mujibur Rahman led the investigation for nearly four years before Inspector Md Tarikul Islam took over as the sixth investigating officer in September 2024.
Earlier this year, Tonu's father expressed frustration over the prolonged investigation, saying he hoped to see justice for his daughter during his lifetime after waiting nearly a decade.
