Maulana Faruqi murder case: Charge framing set for 25 October

A Dhaka court has set 25 October for the hearing on the framing of charges against the accused in the murder case of Islami Front leader and television presenter Nurul Islam Faruqi.

Dhaka Ninth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mahmudul Islam fixed the date today (13 September) after defence lawyers sought more time to prepare for the hearing.

Abdul Karim, bench assistant of the court, confirmed the matter.

Earlier, on 5 November 2024, CID Additional Superintendent of Police KM Abul Kashem, also the case's investigation officer, submitted a charge sheet against seven people and recommended the discharge of 12 others.

The charge-sheeted accused are Hadisur Rahman alias Sagar, Abdullah Al Tasnim Nahid, Rafiqul Islam Fardin, Abu Raihan Mahmud Abdul Hadi, Mahmud Ibn Bashar and Ratan Chowdhury alias Engineer Ripon alias Rakibul Islam Riaz.

Bashar and Rafiqul are absconding, and arrest warrants have been issued against them. Hadisur is in jail, while the other three accused are out on bail.

According to the case documents, a group of men rang the doorbell of Faruqi's residence at around 7pm on 27 August 2014.

Two men entered the house and sat with Faruqi in the drawing room, followed by six or seven others.

When Faruqi's cousin Maruf Hossain went inside to bring chairs, he returned to find the attackers holding a pistol and a machete to Faruqi's head.

The attackers then tied up those inside the house and hacked Faruqi to death, according to the case documents.

His son Faisal Faruqi later filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station against eight to 10 unidentified people.

Faruqi presented Channel i's Islamic programmes Kafela and Shantir Pothe, as well as My TV's live programme Sotyer Sondhane.

He was also international secretary of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Bangladesh and khatib of the Supreme Court Jame Mosque.