Salman Shah Murder Case: Court Rejects Villain Don’s Bail Plea Again

A court has rejected the bail petition of Ashraful Haque Don, the film villain who is currently in jail in connection with the murder case involving popular actor Salman Shah. The order was issued on Thursday afternoon (October 29) by Tawhida Akter, judge of the Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court in Dhaka, following a hearing.

During the bail hearing, defence lawyer Mofizul Islam Aslam argued that four rounds of investigations had failed to establish Don’s direct involvement in Salman Shah’s death. The defence also maintained that Don had not attempted to flee. According to the lawyer, Don was arrested at the airport while preparing to perform Umrah. The lawyer argued that he was not someone likely to abscond and would not do so in the future, and sought bail on those grounds.

The bail petition also referred to two inquest reports, two autopsy reports, and the findings of viscera and chemical tests relating to Salman Shah’s death. The defence claimed that these reports pointed to suicide. The lawyer further argued that Don deserved bail after spending a prolonged period in custody.

After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the court rejected the bail petition. Earlier, on October 5, a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court had also dismissed his bail application.

Don was sent to jail on September 9 after completing a five-day remand. On August 27, the court had authorised five days of questioning. Immigration police arrested him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on August 9.

In its petition seeking Don’s continued detention after remand, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said investigators believed he had withheld important information during questioning. The petition also stated that, as a close friend of Salman Shah, Don was familiar with various aspects of the actor’s life.

The CID further informed the court that analysis of Don’s conduct and movements before, during and after the incident had yielded some information and evidence concerning his possible involvement. Investigators said he might be questioned again if required.

The case was filed by Salman Shah’s wife, Samira Haque, Samira’s mother Latifa Haque Leo, also known as Lucy, and others, including Ashraful Haque Don. A total of 11 people have been named in the case, which alleges that actor Mohammad Shahriar Emon, popularly known as Salman Shah, was murdered as part of a planned killing. November 5 has been set as the date for submission of the investigation report.