Ashraful Haque, better known to audiences as Don, was once known as one of Salman Shah’s closest friends in the film industry.
Three decades after the actor’s death, Don has now been arrested in the murder case surrounding Salman Shah’s death and sent to jail.
Don was not merely Salman’s co-star in several films; the two were also close companions away from the sets.
According to Don’s recollections in an earlier interview with Prothom Alo, the pair would often go on late-night drives after finishing work, with no particular destination in mind.
Salman was especially fond of driving. On many nights, the two friends would roam around Dhaka before stopping at places they enjoyed.
One of their regular destinations was a modest restaurant in Gulshan, where Salman loved having milkshakes.
Don recalled that the shopkeeper would sometimes keep the restaurant open late specifically for Salman.
They also had a favourite roadside spot in Uttara, where an elderly woman sold chitoi pitha.
Salman affectionately called her “Nani”. Don recalled that the two friends could eat as many as nine or 10 pithas each during a visit.
Salman was also generous when paying the bill. According to Don, even after eating only eight pithas, Salman would sometimes leave Tk500—a substantial amount at the time.
Those memories have resurfaced following Don’s arrest in the long-running case concerning Salman Shah’s death.
Don was arrested by immigration police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon.
He was later produced before a metropolitan magistrate’s court, which ordered that he be sent to jail.
The case alleges that Don and other accused individuals were involved in a conspiracy to kill Salman Shah.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently investigating the case.
According to the investigation officer, Don had been absconding for a long time and his detention was necessary in the interests of a proper investigation.
Don appeared before the court without a lawyer representing him during the hearing. The court subsequently ordered that he be sent to jail.
Salman Shah, whose real name was Chowdhury Mohammad Shahriar Emon, made his film debut with Keyamat Theke Keyamat in 1993.
In a career spanning only around three and a half years, he acted in 27 films and became one of the most beloved stars in Bangladeshi cinema.
His body was recovered from his residence in Eskaton, Dhaka, on September 6, 1996.
Nearly three decades later, questions surrounding his death continue to generate public interest, while the murder case remains under investigation.
