A Dhaka court on Sunday denied the bail petition of Ashish Roy Chowdhury alias Bottle Chowdhury in a case filed against him over the murder of film actor Sohel Chowdhury in December, 1998.
Ashish Chowdhury was produced before the court with heavy security. His lawyer pleaded for bail. Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 Judge Zakir Hossain passed the order denying the plea after hearing was completed.
Sunday was fixed for recording deposition of the witnesses. As no witness could be present, the court fixed April 25 for testimony.
Earlier on April 10, Chowdhury was denied bail in another case filed against him under the Narcotics Control Act.
Renowned actor Sohel Chowdhury was shot dead in the city's Banani area on December 18 in 1998.
A murder case was filed in this regard with Gulshan police station following a complaint lodged by Sohel's brother Towhidul Islam Chowdhury.
On 30 July, 1999, Abul Kashem Bepari, additional police commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB), submitted a charge sheet against nine people in the case.
On 30 October, 2001, Dhaka's third additional metropolitan session judge court framed charges against the nine accused. Two years later, the case was transferred to the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2.
The trial in the case has remained suspended for 19 years. Of the nine accused in the case, two, including Ashish, had remained absconding.