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Published : 14 Jul 2025, 12:21 PM
The death of Tarikuzzaman Sunny, a student at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) who died during a visit with friends to Moinot Ghat in Dhaka’s Dohar, remains a mystery three years on.
Sunny’s mother hasn’t yet overcome her grief. She breaks down in tears whenever she sees his photograph. Sunny’s father died two years before Sunny passed away. Now, the family has been reduced to only his mother and brother.
On Jul 14, 2022, 16 people went from Dhaka to the tourist spot of Moinot Ghat on eight motorcycles. That night, Sunny fell into the water on the banks of the Padma River and went missing. His body was recovered by the Fire Service from the scene the following afternoon.
That night, Sunny’s older brother, Hasanuzzaman, filed a case against the 15 people who accompanied Sunny on the trip, alleging that they had killed him by throwing him into the river.
“Our family was made up of my mother, my brother, and me. My mother has been acting strangely since Sunny’s death. She doesn’t eat properly. My mother was cooking rice for Sunny the day he left. She told him to eat before going, but Sunny just rushed out. Now, my mother can’t eat rice.”
“She won’t eat Sunny’s favourite foods either. There are no pictures of Sunny in the house because of my mother. She cries whenever she sees his picture. His things have all been kept as they were. Everything else is still here, but Sunny is gone.”
The accused in the Sunny murder case are Shariful Hossain, Shakil Ahmed, Sejan Ahmed, Rubel, Sajeeb, Nurzaman, Nasir, Maruf, Ashraful Alam, Jahangir Hossain Liton, Noman, Zahid, ATM Shahriar Momin, Maruful Haque Maruf and Roknuzzaman alias Jitu.
After Sunny's death, the police interrogated the suspects in their custody. They are currently out on bail. Even though three years have passed, the investigation into the case is not complete. Those involved in the investigation cannot say when it will be concluded.
The last day to submit the investigation report was Jul 3. But the Qutubpur River Police Outpost in Dohar did not submit one. An extension has been granted, with the new deadline fixed for Aug 6.
Investigation officer Sub-Inspector Nasir Uddin of the Qutubpur River Police Outpost said that some of the investigating officers in the case have been changed.
"I was given the responsibility of investigating the case four months ago. We have not yet reached the final stage of the case. Deliberation and analysis are ongoing to reach that final stage. It will take time to come to a final decision because this is a murder case."
He added, "We must submit investigation reports to the court with specific allegations against suspects. Similarly, specific reasons are required to clear suspects, too. I will submit the report to the court based on clear reasoning. But it will take time."
He could not specify how long that could take.
Sunny’s brother Hasanuzzaman, said: “The state has given police the responsibility of handling the case, and the investigation is ongoing. Some investigation officers have changed. The situation in the country has also changed. My brother is gone. He will not return. Let the truth come out.”
“Even though three years have passed, I don’t know why my brother died. Let the true reason come out, even if it is late.”
“My brother drowned in the water in front of everyone. There were 15 people with 30 hands between them. He didn’t fall in the middle of the river, but near the bank. Only 20 yards away, where the water was up to his stomach.”
He continued, “There was a rope on the sand dredger next to it. My brother drowned in the water, but not a single person saw him.”
Pranab Kumar De, a lawyer for the defence, said: "The case has been under investigation for three years. No report has come yet. The victim and the suspects went for a walk together. The victim slipped and fell. Others did not see it.”
"When they came to know about it, they informed the people of the area, the local police station, and the River Police outpost. If they had any involvement in the incident, they would not have told anyone about it. They would not have rushed about in a panic in the way they did."
At the time of the incident, Sunny was in his final year at BUET’s Department of Architecture. His family hails from Dangur Beparikandi village in Shariatpur’s Zajira Upazila. He lived with his family in Hazaribagh.
After completing his studies at BUET, Sunny wanted to go to Germany for his higher education. He died before that dream could be realised.
His brother Hasanuzzaman said, "The person who is gone, is gone. I am waiting for a fair investigation. It is the responsibility of the state to find out whether those 15 people are guilty or not. It doesn't take even two minutes for an accident to happen. But there were 15 people there. My brother is gone, not someone else’s. I want a fair investigation.”
"But some things strike me as odd. [They say] no one was at the scene in the evening when Sunny fell into the river - wasn't there a single person there? And he didn't fall into a deep part of the river. He was on the bank. Accidents can happen, but there has to be a logic to them."
Defence lawyer Pranab said, "We also want justice. Justice for a slip and fall. It has been three years, and the investigation has not been completed.”
"The defendants are being harassed. They have to appear in court on every scheduled date. I will bring it up to the court at the next hearing - to urge the investigation agency to submit the case report quickly."
