Bashundhara MD Anvir seeks anticipatory bail over Muniya’s death

Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir has sought anticipatory bail from the High Court in a case that involves the death of college girl Mosarat Jahan Muniya.

The bail plea is pending with the High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar. The issue will be heard on Sept 29.

A police investigation absolved Bashundhara MD Anvir of responsibility for inciting the suicide of Muniya on Aug 18. Later, her sister Nusrat Jahan Tania filed a new case against Anvir and his wife and parents accusing them of rape and murder.

The new case was filed against eight people with the Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal No. 8 on Sept 6.

After an initial hearing, Judge Mafruza Parveen ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation to investigate the case and submit a report.

Anvir’s father Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, mother Afroza Sobhan, wife Sabrina, Sharmin, Saifa Rahman Mim, model Faria Mahbub Piasa and Ibrahim Ahmed Ripon are also named in the case.

Muniya, the college student, was found dead in a flat in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Apr 26. The victim’s sister, Nusrat Jahan, filed a case with Gulshan Police Station accusing Anvir of inciting the suicide.

The Bashundhara Group MD never spoke to the media about the allegation.

Tania filed a petition expressing “no confidence” in the final police investigation report that absolved Anvir of culpability in Muniya’s suicide, but Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury acquitted him of charges.

M Sarwar Hossain, one of the lawyers for plaintiff Tania, said they would take the issue to the High Court, seeking a review of the magistrate’s order.

Muniya was an HSC candidate at a college in Dhaka. After losing her parents, she was living in the capital alone while other members of her family were in Cumilla.