HC wants Hazrat Ali murder trial concluded in six months

The High Court has ordered a lower court to dispose of the 1998 murder case of one Hazrat Ali within six months.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Md Mostafizur Rahman issued the order on Wednesday, granting permanent bail to Hedayet, one of the accused in the case, said Assistant Attorney General Md Yousuf Mahmud Morshed.

Yousuf said Magistrate Mohammad Ali, who presides over the Fifth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court, which has failed to complete the trial in that murder case even after 21 years, was also present in the court during the hearing.

Magistrate Ali appeared before the High Court after being summoned on April 29, when the court first heard Hedayet’s bail plea for the first time.

The court asked Magistrate Ali to share his ideas for disposing of “this prehistoric case.” In response, the magistrate said he only took over that particular court on May 20, 2018, and would try his best to finish the trial as soon as possible.

Saying the public prosecutor of that Sessions Court had not taken any significant steps to conclude the trial, the High Court said it was publicly unfortunate and embarrassing.

The court also told Magistrate Ali that going forward, he should order the departments or offices concerned to suspend the salaries of government officials if they do not appear before the court  when they are due for a hearing.

The High Court, however, did not say anything about the missing case documents, including the autopsy and inquest reports.

Assistant Attorney General Yousuf added that the High Court also said the accused Hedayet’s bail would be scrapped if he fails to appear before the trial court regularly.

Hazrat Ali, a young man from Dhaka’s Demra, was shot dead on March 16, 1998, in Narinda, Dhaka. The murder case was filed by his father the same day.

The charge sheet was submitted on May 11, 2003, and the court accepted the charges on August 8, 2004.