Baul artists yesterday joined a protest in the city against the sluggish investigation into the murder of college student Sohagi Jahan Tonu.

They sang songs at a programme organised by the district unit of Gonojagoron Mancha at Kandirpar Pubali Square to mark six months of the murder of the 19-year-old.

Speaking at a rally there, protesters demanded the government arrest the killer's' after matching the  DNA samples of suspects with those collected from the victim's body.

They also threatened to launch a tougher movement if their demand was not met soon.

Tonu, a history student at Comilla Victoria Government College, was found dead near her house inside Comilla Cantonment area on the night of March 20.

Around 40 members of Ochin Pakhi Baul Society took part in the demonstration yesterday. Later, they along with leaders and activists of Gonojagoron Mancha and local people brought out a protest procession which paraded through several city streets.

While addressing the rally, Tonu's mother Anwara Begum couldn't hold back tears.

“Wasn't Tonu a Bangladeshi citizen? Don't we have the right to demand justice?” she questioned.

She said her family did not receive help from the Criminal Investigation Department of   police in speeding up the investigation.

“Six months have passed since my daughter's death, but no progress has been made yet. They [CID] keep on saying that they are looking into the matter…. The investigation officer is being changed, but the case remains unresolved,” lamented Anwara.

She demanded justice for the murder.

Tonu's brother Anwar said they were frustrated over the trial for the murder. He called upon the prime minister to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Khairul Anam Raihan, convener of Comilla Gonojagoron Mancha, said although six months have passed since the murder of Tonu, no visible progress has been made in the investigation.