Twelve years after the murder of 17-year-old Tanvir Muhammad Taqi in Narayanganj, justice remains delayed. Taqi was abducted on March 6, 2013, and found dead two days later in the Shitalakhya River with visible signs of torture.
In 2013 and 2014, two individuals, Yusuf Liton and Sultan Shawkat Bhramar, confessed under Section 164, naming Azmeri Osman, nephew of former ruling-party MP Shamim Osman, as the mastermind. A draft charge sheet was prepared by RAB in 2014, but it was never officially submitted.
Following the political changeover on August 5, 2024, six more individuals were arrested, including Osman’s driver. One suspect gave a fresh confession, describing how Taqi was killed in a torture cell allegedly linked to Osman. Despite these developments, the charge sheet has not yet been submitted to court. As of July 2025, the case has seen 81 court dates without formal charges.
On March 2, 2025, a group of 15 prominent citizens, including writers, academics, and activists, issued a joint statement demanding that the trial begin immediately. Taqi’s father, cultural activist Rafiur Rabbi, continues to lead monthly vigils on the 8th of each month, urging authorities to move forward with the case.
RAB officials have stated that the investigation is ongoing and the charge sheet will be submitted “soon,” but no timeline has been provided.
While fresh arrests and renewed statements have offered some hope, the long delay in delivering justice in this case has raised serious questions about political interference and accountability in Bangladesh’s legal system.
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