An investigation long overdue

It is deeply disturbing that 10 years after the rape and murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of Cumilla Victoria College and a theatre activist, justice remains elusive, with no arrests, no trial, and little visible progress in the case. According to recent reports, a Cumilla court has now ordered the cross-matching of DNA profiles of three retired army personnel in connection with the case. While this is a positive development and may suggest renewed momentum, it also underscores how painfully slow and inconclusive the pursuit of justice has been.

On March 20, 2016, Tonu was found dead inside Cumilla Cantonment after going out to tutor a student. Subsequent findings confirmed she had been raped before being murdered, with DNA evidence indicating multiple perpetrators. However, despite two autopsies—the first of which drew objections and led to exhumation of her body for a second autopsy—and forensic evidence, investigators have still failed to determine the exact circumstances of her death and identify the perpetrators.

Since her death, Tonu’s family has endured unimaginable anguish and pain. According to her mother, she has had no contact with investigators for two years and is unaware of who is handling the case. Yet, her father, despite his illness, continues to hope for justice within his lifetime.

Over the past decade, the case has seen 79 hearings and been handled by six investigation officers across four agencies. This raises several questions: how can a case with such grave allegations and forensic evidence fail to reach trial after ten years? Are certain quarters above the law? What message does this send to victims and families who rely on the state for justice? If a case that once sparked nationwide protests can languish like this, what hope remains for the countless other victims whose stories never make headlines?

The latest court order for DNA cross-matching must therefore mark a genuine turning point, not just another procedural step that leads nowhere. Authorities must ensure that this process is carried out promptly, transparently, and with the highest degree of professionalism. More importantly, there must be a clear timeline for completing the investigation and initiating the trial. With the new government in power, there is renewed hope among Tonu’s family that the case will finally move towards resolution. We stand with them in their long and painful wait for justice and urge that the judicial process must not be obstructed or influenced from any quarter. The state must ensure justice is delivered without further delay, and those responsible for Tonu’s brutal murder are punished according to law.