No bar to continuing trial of journo Shimul murder

The chamber judge's court of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the High Court order that halted the trial proceedings of Sirajganj journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul murder case.

As a result of this order, there is no bar to continuing the trial proceedings of the journo Shimul murder case.

Chamber Judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order after the state filed a petition.

The court also forwarded the state’s appeal to a regular Appellate Division bench and fixed October 14 for the next hearing.

Advocate Abdul Alim Jewel stood for the defence while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state.

The High Court Division had previously passed an order to stay the trial proceedings of the case.

On August 29 last year, the High Court stayed the case’s trial proceedings for six months. It also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the shifting of the murder case to Rajshahi Speedy Trail Tribunal should not be declared illegal.

Later, the state moved the Appellate Division.

On December 28, the government transferred the case to Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal from Sirajganj court. A notification was issued on that day.

Habibul Haque Mintu and other accused of the case challenged the move in court.

Journalist Shimul was shot while covering a clash on February 2, 2017, between a Chhatra League faction and Shahjadpur Mayor Halimul Haque Miru's supporters. He succumbed to his wounds the next day.

His wife Nurun Nahar filed a case against 18 individuals, including the mayor.

On May 2, 2017, police submitted a cahrgesheet against 38 people.

Dhaka/Mahidi/AI