Taqi was killed at Azmery Osman’s Winner Fashion office: Accused gives confessional statement

Taqi was tortured and killed in the presence of Azmery Osman at his Winner Fashion office at Allama Iqbal Road in Narayanganj, according to the confessional statement of Kajol Hawladar, one of the accused in the murder case of 17-year-old Tanwir Muhammad Taqi in 2013.

Kajol was produced in court by RAB-11 Additional Police Superintendent Kazi Shahabuddin Ahmed on 15 September after a five-day remand, where the accused detailed the events of the night Taqi was killed.

In his statement, Kajol claimed that Taqi was tortured and killed in the presence of Azmery Osman, son of the late Jatiya Party lawmaker Nasim Osman and nephew of former Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman, at Azmery's Winner Fashion office.

Kajol described how Taqi's body was later disposed of late at night.

The Business Standard has obtained a copy of this statement, where Kajol provides a detailed account as an eyewitness to the incident.

Kajol recounted that on the day of the murder he went to Azmery's office around 8-8:30pm. He said that being of a similar age, he and Azmery had developed a friendship and used to regularly visit Azmery's office after work.

Describing the layout of the tin-shed office, Kajol mentioned there were three rooms, and upon entering, he first met Bhromor in the front room.

He then moved to the middle room, where Jaky and Shipon were present. While sitting and talking with them, he learned that Azmery, Parvez, and Apu were in the inner room.

Later, Kajol said he went to Azmery's room alone for a brief conversation. Afterward, he joined Shipon in another room to play pool. At around 10:30pm, Jamshed, Kalam Shikder, Rajib, Yusuf, Liton, and Mamun arrived at the office in an X-Fielder car, bringing Taqi along.
Kajol noted that Taqi was "a tall and beautiful boy."

The others took Taqi into the third room, where Kajol was told to stay outside.

Kajol identified several individuals present in the room, including Azmery, Bhromor, Mamun, Kalam Shikder, Rajib, Apu, Yusuf, Liton, Parvez, and Jaky.

He claimed that Taqi was tortured for over 30 minutes, with loud voices and shouting heard during that time. Around 11pm, the shouting stopped, and Jamshed moved the car they arrived in closer to the door.

Taqi's body was placed in the car's boot, and Jamshed, along with the others, drove away. Kajol did not accompany them, as there was no space in the car.

Court police inspector Abdur Rashid confirmed that Kajol had provided various details about the incident in his confessional statement on 15 September, which the court duly recorded under Section 164.

RAB arrested two other accused, Shipon and Mamun, Narayanganj on 8 September and Kajol on 9 September.

Shipon and Mamun were initially placed on six-day remand each, at the end of which they were placed on fresh three-day remand on Sunday.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Haider Ali granted five days of remand for Kajol, at the end of which he gave his statement about Taqi's murder.

Tanvir Muhammad Taqi, a bright boy of Narayanganj in his teens, went missing on his way to Sudhijon Pathagar, a local library on 6 March 2013.

His body was found floating in the Shitalakshya River two days later, on the morning of 8 March.

Taqi's family has long alleged that members of the Osman family were involved in the murder.

Law enforcers had made a few arrests in connection with the murder over the decade.

One of the arrestees even gave a confessional statement naming Azmery Osman as the instigator of the murder. However, the statement was later withdrawn.

Despite over a decade having elapsed, the investigating agency has yet to complete the investigation and submit a charge sheet in court.

RAB visits Azmery's 'torture cell' with accused

The members of RAB today visited the Winner Fashion "torture cell" of Taqi murder case prime accused Azmery Osman in Narayanganj, accompanied by one of the arrested accused, Shafayet Hossain Shipon.

During the visit, the RAB team inspected the former "torture cell" of Azmery Osman, which has since been converted into a multi-storey building. 

They also visited the Kumudini Canal area of the Shitalakshya River, where Taqi's body was dumped.

After the visit, RAB-11 Commander Lt Col Tanvir Mahmud Pasha told the media that five new suspects were arrested in connection with the case. 

Accused Shipon had provided significant information during his remand period, he said, adding that RAB the team visited the crime scene with the suspect and found some of his information to align with their investigation.

"The case is now being handled by a new investigator since the former officers are no longer involved. The RAB team has revisited the crime scene, gathering information from local residents, neighbours, and shopkeepers," said the RAB official.

He anticipates submitting the investigation report to the court very soon.