Munia's family demands case reinvestigation, punishment for Anvir

Family members of Mosarat Jahan Munia, a 21-year-old college student found dead in her Gulshan flat, have called for a reinvestigation of her rape and murder case.

The family is seeking an executive order for the reinvestigation of the case and demanding exemplary punishment for the main accused, Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir, and others allegedly involved in the case.

In a press conference at the National Press Club on Tuesday, the family also requested assurances of their safety.

Nusrat Jahan Tania, the victim's elder sister and the plaintiff in the case, accused the Bashundhara Group of attempting to use their influence to suppress the case.

"When I went to file a case at Gulshan police station, the land grabbers of Bashundhara tried to buy off the entire state machinery to cover up the incident of rape and murder," Tania said.

She further alleged that several law enforcement officials, including the then-Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, played a "shameless role in saving Anvir".

Barrister M Sarwar, the lawyer representing Munia's family, pointed out that three parties failed to ensure justice—the state, the investigators, and the court system. 

"The state should have supervised the case, but they were compromised. The Ministry of Home Affairs has a cell responsible for monitoring important cases, but they did not fulfil their duty," Sarwar said.

He added, "Those who provided the investigation report and the court system were also compromised. Everyone knows it was the notorious Law Minister Anisul Huq who managed this. His chamber has destroyed the judiciary of Bangladesh."

Tania expressed her frustration with not being able to meet former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, despite writing a 26-page letter to seek her attention. 

"If Sheikh Hasina had not given them shelter, people like Anvir wouldn't have dared to become so reckless," she said, adding that the former prime minister even included Anvir in her entourage.

Despite the arrests of other accused individuals, such as Saifa Rahman Mim and Faria Mahbub Piyasha, Anvir was neither questioned nor detained. Tania concluded by appealing to the legal adviser and the chief adviser to ensure justice for her sister. 

"My sister might have made some mistakes, but the extreme injustice done to her must be addressed with exemplary punishment," she said.

On 26 April 2021, police found Munia's body hanging from a ceiling fan in her Gulshan flat. That night, her sister Tania accused Anvir of incitement to suicide, claiming he was in a relationship with Munia and frequently visited her apartment.

On 19 July 2021, investigating officer Abul Hasan, who is also the head of the Gulshan police station, submitted a report clearing Anvir of any wrongdoing. On 6 September 2021, Tania filed a rape and murder case against Anvir and seven others at Dhaka's 8th Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children's Repression.

The court directed the PBI to investigate, and they submitted their final report on 19 October 2022. On 1 January 2023, Nusrat petitioned for a new investigation, criticising the PBI's handling of the case. On 20 March 2024, Anvir and the others were acquitted of all charges.