New DNA evidence links fourth person to Tonu murder, decade after killing

The involvement of a fourth person has been confirmed in the murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, as investigators have found traces of the individual’s blood on her clothes, almost a decade after the filing of the murder case.

Although the laboratory findings were confirmed about a month ago, the information came to light last night (17 May).

Md Tarikul Islam, inspector of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and the case’s current investigating officer, said he wrote to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) several months ago seeking updates on samples collected from Tonu’s clothing.

“About a month ago, I was informed that, in addition to semen from three individuals, traces of another person’s blood were also found on Tonu’s clothes,” he said.

The new finding has emerged nine years after forensic examinations in 2017 identified semen from three individuals, adding another possible link to the murder case.

Tonu went missing on 20 March 2016 after visiting a house in Cumilla Cantonment to provide tuition.

Her body was later discovered in a nearby jungle area close to the cantonment power house.

The following day, her father, Yar Hossain, filed a murder case against unidentified persons at Cumilla’s Kotwali Model Police Station.

The case was initially investigated by local police, the district Detective Branch (DB), and later the CID, but investigators failed to uncover the mystery behind the killing despite years of investigation.

On 21 October 2020, Police Headquarters transferred the case from the CID to the PBI.

For nearly four years, PBI Inspector Md Mujibur Rahman led the investigation.

In September 2024, Tariqul Islam took over as the sixth investigating officer.

In April this year, Tonu’s father reflected on the decade-long ordeal, saying, “It has been 10 years since my daughter was murdered. I have given statements countless times in the cantonment, police offices, and various offices in Dhaka, but received no result.

“Before I die, I want justice under the new government.”