Bail denied for husband, aide in actress Shimu murder case

A Dhaka court on Thursday rejected the bail petitions of two accused, including the husband of Dhallywood actress Raima Islam Shimu, in a case filed over her murder.

Dhaka Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Jabin Nimmi passed the order after hearing separate bail petitions submitted by the defence for Sakhawat Ali Nobel, the actress’s husband, and his associate SM Farhad.

According to court sources, defence counsel Masum Mia moved the bail petitions, while Assistant Public Prosecutor Mohammad Akhtar Hossain opposed them. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court rejected the petitions.

The case was scheduled for witness testimony on Thursday. However, as the prosecution failed to produce any witnesses, the court fixed April 15 for the next hearing to record testimonies. So far, statements of 19 witnesses have been recorded in the case.

The body of actress Raima Islam Shimu was recovered in a sack near Alipur Bridge in Hazratpur Union of Keraniganj on January 17, 2022. She was later identified through fingerprint and digital data.

Investigators said she was murdered at her residence between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM on January 16, 2022, reportedly following a domestic dispute.

Following the incident, Shimu’s brother Harunur Rashid filed a murder case with Keraniganj Model Police Station. Later, on August 29, 2022, investigation officer Shahidul Islam submitted a charge sheet against Nobel and his friend Farhad.

The trial in the case formally began on November 29, the same year after the court framed charges against the accused.

MAL/AM