Nearly three decades after his death, the mystery surrounding Bangladesh’s most beloved film star, Salman Shah, has resurfaced; this time, with new urgency.
The actor, who redefined Dhallywood in the 1990s with his modern style, romantic persona and magnetic screen presence, was found dead in his Eskaton Plaza apartment on September 6, 1996.
At the time, police ruled his death ‘unnatural’, suggesting suicide. But for his family, colleagues and legions of fans, that explanation never fit the man they knew or the life he led.
Now, 29 years later, that same apartment has once again become the center of national attention. Following a court order to reopen the case as a murder investigation, police from Ramna Thana have revisited the long-sealed flat: the very space where the tragedy unfolded.
Footage from inside the apartment, released after nearly three decades, has gone viral, triggering a wave of public reaction and renewed speculation across social media.
The new probe follows an order issued by Dhaka’s Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Md. Jannatul Ferdous Ibne Haque, on October 20.
In this fresh investigation, Salman Shah’s wife, Samira Haque, has been named the prime accused. Others listed include businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Latifa Haque Lucy and 11 additional individuals, among them actor Don. Police confirmed that several unidentified suspects are also under review.
“Salman’s father was a magistrate. He fought for the truth all his life,” said the actor’s maternal uncle, film director Alamgir Kumkum. “Now, at last, there is hope that justice will prevail. Insha Allah, it will be proven that it was murder.”
The decision to reopen the case marks a turning point in one of the most enduring controversies in Bangladeshi pop culture. For years, fans have organized human chains, vigils and campaigns demanding justice for the star they believe was silenced at the height of his career.
As investigators return to Eskaton Plaza and the story re-enters public discourse, a new generation, many of whom know Salman Shah only through his films and online clips, is rediscovering both his brilliance and his mystery.
