Salman Shah's death case: Order to file murder case after 29 years

 

Salman Shah's death case: Order to file murder case after 29 years

Salman Shah's death case: Order to file murder case after 29 years

In a significant development after nearly three decades, a Dhaka court has ordered the filing of a murder case in the death of legendary Bangladeshi film actor Salman Shah. On Monday, October 25, 2025, Dhaka's Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Jannatul Ferdous Ibne Haque issued the order, directing Ramna Police Station to conduct the investigation into the incident as a murder case.

Background to the case

Salman Shah, a beloved figure in Bangladeshi cinema, was found dead in a rented apartment in the New Eskaton Garden area of ​​Dhaka on 6 September 1996. Initially, his death was registered as an unnatural death (UD) case by his father, Qamar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, at the Ramna police station. The police, allegedly without the full knowledge of the family, filed the case using Qamar Uddin's signature. However, suspicions of foul play behind the death persisted, and the actor's family and fans continued to question the official version of suicide.

A significant development occurred in 1997 when Rizvi Ahmed, arrested in a separate case, confessed in court that he was involved in Salman Shah's murder and that it was made to look like a suicide. In the wake of this, Salman's father filed a murder case accusing several people. However, the death was ruled a suicide or unnatural death by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in 1997 and a judicial inquiry in 2014, and the murder charge was dismissed.

Recent court rulings

The latest court order comes from a revision petition filed in 2021 by Salman Shah's mother Neela Chowdhury, who had objected to the final report of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). The 600-page PBI report, submitted on February 25, 2021 under the leadership of Inspector Sirajul Islam, claimed that Salman Shah committed suicide for five reasons. Not satisfied with the PBI's investigation, Neela Chowdhury demanded a re-investigation, alleging that the investigation lacked impartiality and transparency.

His lawyer, Faruk Ahmed, confirmed to Prothom Alo that the court has accepted Neela Chowdhury's revision petition and ordered the filing of a murder case. The court's order is a significant moment, as it formally acknowledges the possibility of foul play in the actor's death and identifies the previously accused as suspects in the murder case.

Family reaction

Salman Shah's maternal uncle, film director Alamgir Kumkum, expressed relief at the court's decision, telling Prothom Alo, "We are happy with this order to file a murder case. Salman did not commit suicide; he was murdered. We demand justice for the killers." The family has consistently claimed that Salman's death was a murder, and has rejected the suicide narrative promoted in previous investigations.

Timeline of events

• September 6, 1996: Salman Shah's body was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment. His wife Samira Haque informed the police, and he was declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. A case of unnatural death was filed.

• November 3, 1997: The CID submitted a report, classifying the death as suicide. Salman's father filed a revision petition in the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court.

• May 19, 2003: The case was sent for judicial investigation.

• August 3, 2014: The judicial investigation report supports the conclusion of unnatural death.

• April 19, 2015: Neela Chowdhury filed another amendment petition.

• August 21, 2016: The court ordered the PBI to re-investigate.

• February 25, 2021: PBI submits a report claiming suicide, which Neela Chowdhury challenges.

• October 25, 2025: The court ordered a murder case to be filed and ordered the Ramna Police Station to investigate.

Significance of the verdict

Salman Shah, at the peak of his popularity in 1996, was a cultural icon whose untimely death at the age of 24 shocked the nation. His films still resonate in the hearts of audiences, and the mystery surrounding his death has stoked public interest for decades. The court's decision to treat the case as a murder investigation has revived hopes for justice among his family and fans, who have long been demanding a thorough investigation.

The case has now been sent to Ramna police station for fresh investigation, where the accused will face investigation as murder suspects. The verdict not only reopens a high-profile case, but also highlights the perseverance of Salman Shah's family for truth and accountability.

As the investigation progresses, the nation awaits an answer to a 29-year-old question: Was Salman Shah's death a tragic suicide, or was it a well-planned murder? The coming months will likely shed light on one of Bangladesh's most enduring mysteries.