The Appellate Division has cleared the way for the trial proceedings in the murder of Sirajganj journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul who died after allegedly being shot by the Shahjadpur mayor to continue.
A bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Wednesday (Oct 16) stayed a High Court order that halted the trial proceedings previously.
The trial will now continue at the Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal.
On Dec 28 last year, a court in Sirajganj issued a notification handing over the case to the speedy tribunal after which the accused lodged a writ with the HC challenging the order.
On Aug 29 this year, the HC bench of justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and KM Kamrul Kader ordered a six-month stay on the trial and also issued a rule asking why handing over the trial to the speedy tribunal should not be considered illegal.
The prosecution moved the apex court against the stay after the chamber judge court issued a freeze on the HC order on Sept 19 and referred it to a full Appellate bench.
Shimul who was the Shahzadpur correspondent of Daily Samakal, died the day after Halimul Haque Miru, the suspended mayor of Shahzadpur municipality in Sirajganj, allegedly opened fire during a factional clash of ruling Awami League on Feb 2, 2017.
The following day Shimul’s wife filed a murder case with Shahzadpur Police Station against Miru and 39 others.