Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday granted bail to suspended Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury in the former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria murder case.
An HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah passed the order disposing of a HC rule asking the government to explain as to why Ariful Haque Chowdhury should not be granted bail in the case. Barrister Mainul Hosein, Barrister Abdul Hakim Kafi and Md Nizam Uddin stood for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Dr Mohammad Bashir Ullah represented the state. When contacted Ariful’s lawyer Nizam Uddin said the HC granted him bail until the end of the trial in the case. The Deputy Attorney General said the court has already recorded testimony of 31 witnesses among 170. They will file an appeal against the HC order with the Supreme Court. Earlier on August 9, the High Court issued the rule.
Barrister Hosein submitted that Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury was implicated in 2014 by second supplementary charge sheet for the offence committed in 2005 and without any evidence. Just because it is a sensational case it does not justify an innocent people’s elected Mayor should suffer in jail. None of the witnesses mentioned his name. One forcible and vague confession was obtained, which was later retracted. That was also in respect of Grenade Case of Dhaka. Confessional statement of a co-accused is not no evidence about implication unless supported by an independent witness.
Barrister Hosein further submitted it is misleading the HC Division rejected his bail petition. He cited that earlier the court granted bail to 8 persons accused in this case.
The High Court Division on March 22 granted bail to Ariful for 15 days on the ground that his mother was ill, and asked him to surrender before the lower court on the expiry of the bail. After the expiry of the bail period, Ariful surrendered. He did not abuse bail.
Five people, including Kibria, were killed and 70 others injured in a grenade attack on a public rally of local Awami League at Baidder Bazar in Sadar upazila of Habiganj district on January 27, 2005. After the incident, Awami League leader Abdul Mozid Khan filed two cases-one for murder and another under the Explosives Substances Act-with Habiganj Police Station the following day. The cases are being dragged on making the accused to suffer imprisonment indefinitely.
The High Court on Tuesday granted bail to suspended Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury in the former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria murder case.
An HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah passed the order disposing of a HC rule asking the government to explain as to why Ariful Haque Chowdhury should not be granted bail in the case. Barrister Mainul Hosein, Barrister Abdul Hakim Kafi and Md Nizam Uddin stood for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Dr Mohammad Bashir Ullah represented the state. When contacted Ariful’s lawyer Nizam Uddin said the HC granted him bail until the end of the trial in the case. The Deputy Attorney General said the court has already recorded testimony of 31 witnesses among 170. They will file an appeal against the HC order with the Supreme Court. Earlier on August 9, the High Court issued the rule.
Barrister Hosein submitted that Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury was implicated in 2014 by second supplementary charge sheet for the offence committed in 2005 and without any evidence. Just because it is a sensational case it does not justify an innocent people’s elected Mayor should suffer in jail. None of the witnesses mentioned his name. One forcible and vague confession was obtained, which was later retracted. That was also in respect of Grenade Case of Dhaka. Confessional statement of a co-accused is not no evidence about implication unless supported by an independent witness.
Barrister Hosein further submitted it is misleading the HC Division rejected his bail petition. He cited that earlier the court granted bail to 8 persons accused in this case.
The High Court Division on March 22 granted bail to Ariful for 15 days on the ground that his mother was ill, and asked him to surrender before the lower court on the expiry of the bail. After the expiry of the bail period, Ariful surrendered. He did not abuse bail.
Five people, including Kibria, were killed and 70 others injured in a grenade attack on a public rally of local Awami League at Baidder Bazar in Sadar upazila of Habiganj district on January 27, 2005. After the incident, Awami League leader Abdul Mozid Khan filed two cases-one for murder and another under the Explosives Substances Act-with Habiganj Police Station the following day. The cases are being dragged on making the accused to suffer imprisonment indefinitely.
