Tonu Murder Case: Key Suspect Released On Bail

In a major development in the widely discussed Sohagi Jahan Tonu murder case, retired Senior Warrant Officer Hafizur Rahman has been released from prison on bail. Tonu, an history student at Comilla Victoria Government College and a passionate theatre activist, was murdered inside the military cantonment area years ago. Hafizur Rahman, who was the first person arrested in connection with the investigation, officially walked out of Cumilla Central Jail around 7:15 PM on Tuesday after completing all procedural formalities. The Senior Jail Super of Cumilla Central Jail, Md. Shah Alam Khan, formally confirmed his release following the receipt of official court orders from the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.

The legal breakthrough came on Sunday when a High Court bench comprising Justice Zakir Ahmed and Justice Sathika Hossain granted bail to Hafizur Rahman following a comprehensive hearing. He was originally arrested on the night of April 21 from his residence in Keraniganj, Dhaka, by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). His release on bail marks the end of a detention period lasting three months and fourteen days:

• Remand and Interrogation Details: Following his initial arrest, Hafizur Rahman was presented before the Cumilla Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, which granted a three-day remand. He was subsequently taken to the special unit of the PBI in Dhaka for rigorous questioning regarding his potential involvement in the crime.

• Forensic and DNA Evidence Gathering: Forensic analysis on Tonu’s seized clothing previously identified complete DNA profiles belonging to multiple males. Seeking a direct match, the PBI formally petitioned the court to collect blood samples from two prime suspects—former soldier Md. Jahidul Islam and local resident Faisal Ahmed alias Rabbi. The court officially granted permission for these DNA tests on July 16.

Prolonged Legal Pursuit and International Red Notices

The investigation has also targeted other key figures present at the time of the incident. On June 8, the court issued arrest warrants against retired Sergeant Jahiduzzaman alias Jahid and former soldier Shaheen Alam, both of whom were stationed at the Cumilla Cantonment when the murder took place. Furthermore, the court directed authorities to issue Interpol Red Notices to track down and apprehend these two suspects, who currently remain at large. The current investigating officer, PBI Inspector Tariqul Islam, reaffirmed that efforts are actively ongoing to arrest remaining suspects and collect required DNA samples.

The tragic case dates back to the evening of March 20, 2016, when Sohagi Jahan Tonu went missing while returning from a tutoring session inside the Cumilla Cantonment premises. Her lifeless body was recovered the next day from a wooded area inside the secure military zone, leading her father, Yaar Hossain, to file a murder case against unidentified assailants. The investigation faced years of delays as local police, the District Detective Branch (DB), and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) failed to resolve the mystery. Although a 2017 CID forensic report detected semen from three males on Tonu’s clothes, comparative testing was never executed. The case was eventually transferred to the PBI in October 2020, with Inspector Tariqul Islam taking charge of the active investigation in September 2024.