In a dramatic turn of events surrounding the long-unsolved Sohagi Jahan Tonu murder case, retired Senior Warrant Officer Md. Hafizur Rahman has been released on bail from Cumilla Central Jail. Tonu, a 19-year-old history student at Comilla Victoria Government College and a dedicated theatre worker, was brutally killed inside the restricted zone of Cumilla Cantonment in March 2016. Hafizur, who was the first individual ever apprehended in connection with the decade-old homicide, walked free on Tuesday evening around 7:05 PM after the prison authorities received formal orders issued by the High Court.

The legal relief came via a High Court bench comprising Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Shathika Hossain, which granted Hafizur an ad-interim bail for six months following an extensive hearing. Hafizur was originally taken into custody by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) on April 21 from his residence in Keraniganj, Dhaka. His release marks the temporary conclusion of a detention period spanning three months and fourteen days:

• Interrogation and Remand Period: Following his apprehension, Hafizur was produced before the Cumilla Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, which approved a three-day remand for intensive questioning at the PBI’s special investigation unit in Dhaka.

• Forensic and DNA Evidence Testing: Preliminary forensic examinations conducted on Tonu’s clothing recovered complete male DNA profiles. To determine a direct genetic match, the PBI secured court permission on July 16 to collect blood samples from two prime suspects—former soldier Md. Jahidul Islam and local resident Faisal Ahmed alias Rabbi.

Prolonged Search for Justice and Unresolved Mystery

Beyond Hafizur, law enforcement agencies have expanded their net to include other military personnel present in the cantonment during the crime. On June 8, court warrants were issued for retired Sergeant Jahiduzzaman (alias Jahid) and former soldier Shaheen Alam, both of whom were posted at Cumilla Cantonment when the murder occurred. The court further instructed authorities to enlist Interpol to issue Red Notices for their capture as both suspects remain at large. PBI Inspector Tariqul Islam, who took over as the lead investigator in September 2024, confirmed that active efforts are ongoing to locate remaining individuals and complete necessary DNA cross-matching procedures.

The tragic incident originated on the evening of March 20, 2016, when Tonu vanished while returning home from a private tutoring session within the Cumilla Cantonment. Her lifeless body was discovered the following day in a wooded area near the power house inside the secure military zone. Her father, Yaar Hossain, subsequently filed a murder case against unidentified perpetrators. The case suffered years of stagnation under local police, the Detective Branch (DB), and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Although a 2017 CID forensic report detected semen from three separate males on Tonu’s garments, cross-matching was stalled for years. The PBI took charge of the investigation in October 2020 and continues its efforts to solve the high-profile crime.