The murder case over the death of legendary Bangladeshi actor Salman Shah has returned to the spotlight. Nearly 30 years after his death, the case has seen its first arrest, with actor Ashraful Haque alias Don, a friend of Salman Shah, now in jail in connection with the case.
Against this backdrop, fans of the late actor held a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday, demanding a fair investigation and justice in the case.
The programme was held at around 2:30pm, with Salman Shah fans from Dhaka and different parts of the country taking part. They carried banners, festoons and photographs of the much-loved actor.
The fans demanded the immediate arrest of those named as accused in the case, including Samira Haque, Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Rizvi Ahmed Farhad and Latifa Haque Lucy, as well as other accused who remain at large. The case names Samira Haque as the main accused, while the other accused include Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Latifa Haque Lucy, Don, David, Zaved, Faruk, Ruby, A Sattar, Saju and Rizvi Ahmed Farhad.
They also called for actor Don to be taken on remand and questioned in order to uncover the circumstances surrounding Salman Shah’s death.
During the human chain, the fans asked the state: “Our beloved hero has been in his grave for 30 years. Why are his killers still outside?”
They said that despite the passage of nearly three decades, they are still waiting for the truth about Salman Shah’s death and for justice to be served. They urged the authorities to expedite the investigation, establish the facts surrounding his death and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
Salman Shah, whose real name was Chowdhury Mohammad Shahriar Emon, was one of Bangladesh’s most popular film actors. Despite having a relatively short acting career, he became a major star and remains deeply popular among audiences. His death on 6 September 1996, at the age of 25, has continued to generate public interest and debate for decades.
