Mystery persists 30yrs after actor’s death

Three decades after popular film actor Chowdhury Muhammad Shahriar Emon, known as Salman Shah, was found dead at his Eskaton residence, whether he died by suicide or was murdered remains unresolved, with the case now being investigated as murder following a court order last year.

The case has swung between findings of suicide and unnatural death since 1996, with multiple investigations, a judicial inquiry and prolonged litigation failing to settle the matter. A court last year directed that it be registered as an FIR and treated as a murder case, although the investigation report is yet to be submitted after nine deferrals.

Salman’s uncle, Mohammad Alamgir Kumkum, filed the murder case on behalf of his mother, Neela Chowdhury, with Ramna Police Station on 20 October 2025. The accused include Salman’s wife Samira Haque, her mother Latifa Haque Lucy, businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, actor Ashraful Haque alias Don, David, Javed, Faruk, Ruby, A Chhattar, Saju and Rizvi Ahmed alias Farhad.

Don, a friend of Salman, was arrested on 9 August and remains in jail after being placed on remand, becoming the first accused to be interrogated in connection with the case in 30 years.

“I have said from the beginning that it was a murder. My son did not die; he was killed. He is still seeking justice,” Neela Chowdhury said, calling for the arrest of Samira, Aziz Mohammad Bhai and Ruby.

She referred to 6 September, the day Salman died, as his “murder anniversary” rather than his death anniversary and alleged that the family had faced years of harassment, including a false case filed through their domestic worker and an attack on Salman’s brother’s car.

Plaintiff’s lawyer Abid Hasan said he had waited 30 years for justice and demanded the highest punishment for all the accused.

The case is now being investigated by the CID. Investigating Officer Inspector Mujibur Rahman said one accused had been arrested so far and that the investigation would be completed as soon as possible.

Salman’s death was initially recorded as an unnatural death case before his father, Komoruddin Chowdhury, sought its conversion into a murder case in 1997, citing ligature marks on his son’s neck. The CID’s 1997 report and the PBI’s 2020 report both concluded that Salman had died by suicide. The family, however, repeatedly challenged the findings until a court allowed its revision petition last October.

Court records cite the Section 164 statement of Rizvi Ahmed, who allegedly described a Tk12 lakh contract killing involving several accused and an injection allegedly administered to Salman before his death. The records also refer to a lignocaine hydrochloride vial reportedly found in Samira’s suitcase.

The court questioned why no independent person was called when Salman was allegedly found and raised questions over aspects of the earlier investigation. It also noted that even if Salman had intended to die by suicide, the possible responsibility of those who were with him at the time required investigation, referring to the offence under Section 306 of the Penal Code.