The CID investigators got new clues on alleged involvement of only one youth in the murder who is yet to be arrested.

"Investigation revealed that only one youth was involved in the cruel incident. But he was not brought to book earlier mistakenly as Sazzad and Tariqul of Dariapur village misguided the investigators through confessional statements under Section 164", investigation officer (IO) CID inspector Nazrul Islam told The Daily Star.

"The killer youth proposed to marry her. On refusal he became furious and strangled her after failing to rape her," IO told further.

Earlier, four youths were accused and charge-sheeted in the case.

The case was transferred to CID for further investigation and submission of a fresh charge-sheet following a 'naraji' (no confidence) petition to the Home Ministry by plaintiff who is the victim's elder brother Royeechuddin,.

Daughter of a poor farmer Raihanuddin Joarder at Borichara village in Sreepur upazila, Zahida Khatun, appeared at the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination in the Humanities group from Dariapur College last year. She secured first division in the examination, but she could not know her result as she was strangled on July 5, 2002, a few days after the examination.

Zahida was returning home from her friend's house at daytime when she was dragged into a jute field and killed.

Local administration, at a meeting on August 27, 2002, put the case on the list of 'sensitive' cases and sent it to DB (Detective Branch) police for investigation.