Dwip put on fresh 3-day remand

A Dhaka court on Tuesday placed Ahmed Shahriar Reza Dwip, a close associate of former Air Force officer Tahsif Sauri, on a fresh three-day remand for interrogation in a murder case filed over Sauri’s death. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasan Shahadat passed the order after hearing a petition by the investigation officer, who had sought seven days of further remand to uncover the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify other people allegedly involved.

Inspector Firoz Uddin of the Tongi River Police Outpost, the investigation officer, cited eight grounds for seeking further interrogation. These include examining CCTV footage, analysing mobile phone call detail records (CDRs), establishing the possible motive and location of the murder, recovering evidence and identifying and arresting other suspects. According to the remand petition, Sauri had been seen with Dwip and another suspect, Jerika Tasnim Disha, at different locations, including restaurants, before his death. Investigators believe their statements and information could help establish the sequence of events leading to Sauri’s death.

The police also want to determine where Dwip went and whom he contacted during an alleged 15-20 minutes absence while he and Sauri were at Nest Bar and Restaurant.

Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon supported the remand prayer, while defence lawyer Mutasim Billah opposed it and sought its rejection. After hearing both sides, the court granted three days of remand instead of the seven days sought by police.

Deep had earlier been placed on a four-day remand on Saturday for interrogation in the first phase.

Sauri’s floating body was recovered from the Rajabari Ghat area of the Turag River on the afternoon of October 28. He had reportedly left his residence on a motorcycle on the evening of October 27 after receiving a call from Deep.

Deep later claimed that he had dinner with Sauri at a restaurant and parted ways with him in the Uttara House Building area that night.

He was handed over to the river police on the night of October 30 and subsequently shown arrested in the murder case after Sauri’s father filed a complaint.

Investigators also recovered Sauri’s motorcycle from the Mazar Basti area of Tongi on October 30, reportedly following information provided by Deep. Deep reportedly admitted visiting the area with Sauri around midnight.

Meanwhile, Jerika Tasnim Disha, described as Sauri’s friend, was placed on a four-day remand on Sunday. She was reportedly seen with Sauri and Deep at a bar in Uttara on the night of the incident.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage, mobile phone records and the movements of the people who last met Sauri to establish how and where he died and whether anyone else was involved.