Parvez murder: University of Scholars student Tina remanded for three days

A Dhaka court has granted police three days to question University of Scholars student Faria Haque Tina in custody in connection to the murder case of Primeasia University student Zahidul Islam Parvez.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam issued the order on Friday following a petition filed by the investigation officer of the case.

The investigation officer, Inspector AKM Moinuddin of Banani Police, had appealed for a five-day remand.

At the hearing, Qayyum Hossain, representing the state, argued in favour of the remand.

He said, "It was a trivial incident, he was brutally killed for laughing. This murder was committed for Tina.

“Parvez used to take part in all movements. He is a textile engineer. The nation lost a promising student. And the reason? Just because he laughed. We want her [Tina] to be remanded for the maximum [duration] and questioned."

Tina’s lawyer Nakib Al Masad applied for bail, seeking cancellation of the remand.

He said, "Tina had another girl named [Fatema Tahsin] Oishee with her. The laughter was directed towards Oishee. There was an argument with Oishee.

“And when the victim was stabbed, Tina was teaching next door. She was not present at the scene. If she had been involved in the incident, she would have been the prime accused.

"Tina has been deliberately implicated in the case. Seven people have been arrested in this case. Nothing [information] new is to be gained from her. I pray for the cancellation of her remand and seek her bail."

When the court asked Tina if she would like to add anything to the hearing, she said: “No.”

Later, the court remanded her for three days, said Sub-Inspector Moktar Hossain Banani police’s prosecution department.

The remand petition for Tina said, “This has led to agitation at Primeasia University and other educational institutions in the area, which is still ongoing.”

“Parvez was killed with the instigation and support of Faria Haque Tina and her friend Fatema Tahsin Oishee. Tina’s involvement was proved to the court through the confessional statement given by Mahathir Hossain. Enough proof of her involvement has been found. The case is a sensitive murder case.”

The investigation officer said in his petition, “There is a possibility of finding the true information regarding the murder and also to find the whereabouts of the unidentified suspects in the case and arrest them once Tina is remanded and questioned.”

Police arrested Tina, a student of the English department at the University of Scholars, from Vatara's Norda area on Thursday.

On Apr 23, a court instructed authorities to locate two women allegedly involved in the case. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanullah asked the investigating officer, “Where are the girls? Why haven’t you arrested them?” during a remand hearing.

The investigation officer replied that there was no reason to suspect them, and they had not been seen in any CCTV footage. He added that a student named Abu Zar Pias was believed to have orchestrated the incident and was being traced.

However, the judge insisted that the girls were present at the scene and played a role. “They were involved. Find them,” he ordered.

Banani Police Station OC Russel Sarwar said they had arrested seven people as of now in connection with the case.

Primeasia University’s Department of Textile student Parvez was stabbed to death on Apr 19. His cousin Humayun Kabir filed a case with the Banani Police Station naming eight people as suspects. The other accused are Mehraj Islam, 20, Abu Zar Gifari Pias, 20, Mahathir Hasan, 20, Sobhan Niaz Tushar, 24, Hridoy Miyazi, 23, Rifat, 21, Ali, 21 and Fahim, 22. Another 25-30 unidentified people were also accused in the case.

Parvez, a student of the textile department, was stabbed to death on the PrimeAsia University campus on April 19. The next morning, his cousin Humayun Kabir filed a case with Banani Police Station accusing eight people.

The accused in the case are Mehraj Islam (20), Abu Zar Gifari Pias (20), Mahathir Hasan (20), Sobhan Niaz Tushar (24), Hridoy Miyazi (23), Rifat (21), Ali (21) and Fahim (22). Apart from them, 25-30 other people have been accused without giving their names.

Among the accused, Mehraj, Hridoy Miyazi and Mahathir are in jail after their arrests. Police have also arrested Md Al Kamal Sheikh, Alvi Hossain Zunaid and Al Amin Sani, who were not named in the case dossier in connection with the murder.

Hridoy Miyazi has been identified as a joint member secretary of the Banani Thana of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement unit. Sobhan Niaz Tushar, the joint convener of the same unit, is also named in the case.

After Parvez’s death, BNP’s student wing Chhatra Dal claimed him as their activist at a press briefing. They alleged the involvement of some leaders of the Banani Thana unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

According to the case dossier, Parvez was chatting with some of his friends at a tea stall opposite Primeasia University in Banani on Apr 19.

Two female students from other institutions were standing behind them.

At one point, key suspect Mehraj and two others went to Parvez and asked why he was giggling. They engaged in an argument over the issue.

Two teachers from Primeasia University went to the scene and took both parties to the proctor. After a settlement, Mehraj and his companions left the campus. After a while, the suspects returned with sticks and sharp weapons, chased Parvez and his friend Tariqul Islam and stabbed him in the chest.