Major developments in the nearly three-decade old case of actor Salman Shah

Dhaka, 28 October 2025 – A Dhaka court has taken decisive action in the long-running controversy surrounding the death of film star Salman Shah, ordering the case to be treated as murder and triggering renewed investigation efforts.

Key developments

• On 20 October, a judge of the Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court in Dhaka formally directed that the death of Salman Shah be treated as a homicide, rescinding previous classification as an “unnatural death”.

• On 21 October, a murder case was registered at Ramna Model Police Station under sections 302 and 34 of the Penal Code. The complainant is the actor’s maternal uncle, acting on behalf of the actor’s mother.

• Eleven persons have been named in the case as accused, including the actor’s former wife Samira Haque, businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, socialite Latifa Haque Lucy, and actor Don Haque.

• The court has set a deadline of 7 December 2025 for the police to submit the investigation report.

• Immigration authorities have been alerted: law-enforcement agencies issued travel bans and asked immigration check-points to prevent any of the accused from leaving the country.

Background

Salman Shah – whose real name was Chowdhury Mohammad Shahriar Emon – was found dead at his residence in New Eskaton, Dhaka, on 6 September 1996, at the height of his stardom. The case has remained a subject of controversy ever since. Although initial and subsequent investigations ruled the death a suicide, the actor’s mother has long insisted it was murder.

What it means

This action signals renewed seriousness from the judiciary and police after decades of dormancy in the case. By re-classifying the death as murder and naming high-profile individuals, the authorities are acknowledging that fresh inquiry is required. The travel-ban and investigation deadline reinforce that momentum is gathering.

What remains ahead

• Whether any of the accused will be arrested soon.

• Whether the investigation will yield new forensic or testimonial evidence, despite the long time passed since the event.

• How the court manages bail applications, cross-examinations, and the integrity of decades-old evidence.

• Whether this renewed pace will satisfy the actor’s family and the public, long awaiting closure.

The renewed legal drive provides hope to many that the truth behind Salman Shah’s death may finally surface, even after 29 years.