Published : 05 Oct 2026, 03:20 PM
Updated : 05 Oct 2026, 03:20 PM
A Dhaka court has turned down a petition seeking to reinstate Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam and eight others as defendants in the murder case of Deepto TV broadcast officer Tanjil Jahan Tamim.
Judge Zahidul Islam of Dhaka's 13th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order on Monday, upholding an earlier decision to discharge the nine from the case.
"The nine accused had been discharged from the case, and the complainant filed a revision petition against that decision," court bench assistant Sohel Mia said.
"The court has rejected the revision petition. The case will proceed against those named in the chargesheet."
Tamim's family expressed dissatisfaction with the decision and said they would challenge it in the High Court.
"We will move the High Court against this order," said Abdul Alim, a lawyer for the complainant.
Masud Ahmed Talukder, a lawyer for Rabiul, had previously said the case against his client was based on "false allegations".
The Killing
Tamim was attacked at his family's home in the Mohanagar Residential Area under Dhaka's Hatirjheel Police Station on Oct 10, 2024.
He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where doctors declared him dead.
His father, Sultan Ahmed, filed a murder case with Hatirjheel Police Station the following day, naming 16 people and another 11 to 12 unidentified suspects.
Those named included Rabiul, who was then a member of the BNP's National Executive Committee, and Department of Narcotics Control Deputy Director Mohammad Mamun.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police said after the case was filed that Pleasant Properties, a developer associated with Rabiul, had constructed a building on land owned by Tamim's father under an agreement.
Police said they had received allegations that Tamim was "beaten to death" by several people, including representatives of the developer, following a dispute over the distribution of flats in the building.
Investigation and Chargesheet
After investigating the case, Police Bureau of Investigation Sub-Inspector Zakaria Alam submitted a chargesheet against 13 people on Dec 10, 2025, along with a separate report against a juvenile.
The investigating officer recommended that nine others, including Rabiul and Mamun, be discharged after finding no "specific information or evidence" against them.
Tamim's father challenged the findings on Jan 8, seeking a reinvestigation and setting out specific allegations against each of the nine.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Junaid rejected the petition on Mar 3, accepted the PBI chargesheet and discharged the nine.
The court said it found no need for further investigation.
Sultan then filed a revision petition challenging the order.
The court heard the petition on Sept 19, with Abdul Alim representing Sultan.
A lawyer appearing on behalf of Rabiul and Mamun sought more time because their lawyer, Masud Ahmed Talukder, was absent.
The court rejected the request and set Oct 5 for its decision, while allowing the defence an opportunity to make submissions before the order.
Masud made those submissions on Monday before the court rejected Sultan's revision petition.
The 13 defendants facing trial are Pleasant Properties Limited Managing Director Mirza Abdul Latif, CEO Faizul Ahmed, also known as Suman, Mamunur Rashid Mamun, Korban Ali, SM Ibrahim Hossain, Badhon, Gazi Zakir Hossain, Rasel, Monir Hossain, Shahraz Uddin, Amirul Islam, also known as Amir, Suman Mallick and Mahfuzar Rahman.
The other eight discharged from the case are Mohammad Mamun, Fazlur Rahman, Arian, Nasrin Akter, Rasel, Mahfuzur Rahman, Mozammel Haque Kabir and Imam Hossain.
