Tonu murder: Court orders DNA match with 3 retired army personnel after decade of case filed

A court in Cumilla today (6 April) ordered a cross-match between DNA profiles recovered from Sohagi Jahan Tonu's clothing and those of three retired army personnel in the rape and murder case, a decade after the crime was reported.

The order came from Cumilla Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Mominul Haque following a progress report submitted by the investigating officer, PBI Inspector Md Tariqul Islam. Court sources said the development follows a recent directive seeking updates on the prolonged investigation. 

Inspector Islam told reporters, "Earlier, DNA profiles of three individuals were created from some of Tonu's belongings. These were never matched later. Therefore, the court today directed that the DNA of the three suspects be matched. Those three have already retired from the army." He added that the court has asked for a progress update at the next hearing.

However, the victim's brother, Rubel Hossain, expressed scepticism. "The DNA of several suspects has been tested before, but no results were communicated. The CID officer investigating was removed. We believe today's development is merely for show. We want the truth revealed," he said.

The investigation has shifted hands multiple times without resolution. Most recently, on 7 April last year, Inspector Islam visited the crime scene in Cumilla Cantonment and met with Tonu's father, Yar Hossain. Inspector Islam is the sixth officer assigned to the case.

Tonu went missing on 20 March 2016 after visiting a house in the Cumilla Cantonment to give tuition. Her body was later discovered in a nearby jungle area close to the cantonment power house. 

The next day, her father filed a murder case at Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station against unidentified individuals. The case initially passed through local police, the Detective Branch (DB), and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), none of which could solve it. 

On 21 October 2020, Police Headquarters transferred the case from CID to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). For nearly four years, PBI Inspector Md Mujibur Rahman led the investigation. Since September 2024, Inspector Islam has taken over as the sixth investigating officer. 

Tonu's father reflected on the decade-long ordeal: "It has been 10 years since my daughter was murdered. I have given statements countless times in the cantonment, police offices, and various offices in Dhaka, but received no result. Today, the investigating officer told me to be present in court, and I will go. Before I die, I want justice under the new government."