Sagira Morshed murder: Charge framing hearing deferred till October 7

A Dhaka court today deferred till October 7 the hearing on charge framing against four accused in connection with the killing of Sagira Morshed in the capital 30 years ago.

The four accused are Sagira Morshed's brother-in-law Hasan Ali Chowdhury, his wife Sayedatul Mahmuda alias Shahin, brother-in-law (wife's brother) Anas Mahmud alias Rezwan and a "hired killer", Maruf Reza.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order after defence lawyers submitted separate petitions seeking adjournment of the hearing.

Meantime, lawyer for accused Maruf Reza submitted a petition for treating him as a juvenile as his age was 17 years old when the incident took place in 1989. He also urged the court to send the charges wrote against him to the Juvenile Court for trial.

The court, however, fixed the same date (October 7) for hearing on the issue.

On July 25, 1989, the victim Sagira (34), was going to Viqarunnisa Noon School on the capital's Bailey Road by a rickshaw to pick up her daughter Saharat.

Sagira, however, could not reach her daughter as muggers shot and killed her in front of the school.

Abdus Salam Chowdhury, husband of the victim, filed a murder case against unknown people with Ramna Police Station the same day.