Trial possible under existing laws: PM
Tonu murder
Expressing her firm resolve to punish the culprits behind the murder of college girl Sohagi Jahan Tonu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said it is possible to bring the perpetrators to justice under the existing laws of the land. Sheikh Hasina said this during an unscheduled discussion in the weekly Cabinet meeting, held at the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat with the Prime Minister in the chair. Terming the existing laws of the country obsolete, Chief Justice SK Sinha on Saturday said it is not possible to arrange the trial of Tonu killing within a short time with the traditional and 18th centurys laws. Sheikh Hasina said it is possible to try the Tonu murder case under the existing laws of the country and it will be done, the Prime Minister was quoted as saying. The body of Tonu, 19, a second year history student of Victoria College and a member of Victoria College Theatre, was recovered from Comillas Mainamati Cantonment area on March 20. Police suspect that she had been raped before the murder. The following day, victims father filed a case with Kotoali Model Police Station in connection with the incident. The killing of the college student sparked widespread protests across the country. Talking to the news agency, a couple of cabinet members said the meeting also discussed the recent verdict of the apex court of the country on two ministers, but the Prime Minister did not take part in that discussion. The Supreme Court fined Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq Tk 50,000 each for their controversial comments about Chief Justice SK Sinha in connection with the war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali.
