A court in Cumilla has ordered the collection of DNA samples from two former army members in connection with the murder of Victoria Government College student Sohagi Jahan Tonu. The order was issued on July 17 by Senior Judicial Magistrate Muminul Haque of Cumilla’s No. 1 Amli Court following an application from the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). The two individuals are identified as former soldiers Zahidul Islam and Tonu’s friend Faisal Ahmed Rabbi.

According to PBI Inspector Md. Tarikul Islam, who is investigating the case, the court granted permission to collect the DNA samples to aid the ongoing investigation. The directive came after the arrest of former senior warrant officer Hafizur Rahman, while two other ex-sergeants, Zahiduzzaman Zahid and Shahin Alam, reportedly fled the country. With the latest order, DNA samples from a total of five former army personnel are now set to be examined.

Hafizur Rahman remains the only arrested suspect in the case, currently held at Cumilla Central Jail. Tonu was found dead inside the Cumilla Cantonment area on March 20, 2016, after she went missing while tutoring at a residence there.