Md. Shahjahan Bashar, Dhaka Correspondent:
On August 27, 2014, Islamic speaker and central leader of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Nurul Islam Farooqui, was hacked to death and his throat slit at his house in East Rajabazar in the capital. Eleven years have passed since the murder of this religious leader, who hosted television and various programs, but the trial has not yet begun.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which started investigating the case, submitted a charge sheet to the court late last year after a long 10 years, but the hearing for framing the charges has not yet begun even after all the formalities were completed.
Current status of the case
Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court Additional Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Suman said, “The state will make every effort to conclude the trial of the case quickly.”
Family’s demands and reactions
Farooqui’s son Faisal Farooqui said,
“It’s been 11 years. I haven’t received justice for my father’s murder. I don’t have faith that I will get justice. Still, I am hopeful. I want to know the reason why my father was killed, the main reason, the truth. I also want to know who the instigators and the masterminds of the murder were.”
Farooqui was the host of Channel I’s religious programs ‘Kafela’ and ‘Shantiru Pothi’, and My TV’s live program ‘Satya Sandhane’. He also served as the international secretary of ‘Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat’ Bangladesh and the khatib of the Supreme Court Jama Masjid.
Farooqui’s death has left an impression of grief among the religious community and the general public of the country. However, even after 11 years, the family and followers are deeply disappointed that there has been no justice.