Judge Hossain Shahid Ahmad of the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court adjourned the proceedings after hearing charges brought against two of the accused. The court will next hear discharge petitions of six others.

The defence counsels of the two accused -- Senior Assistant Secretary Rabiul Alam Mohammad Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury at the establishment ministry, and incumbent Member of the Public Commission and former joint secretary at the women's affairs ministry Sirajuddin Ahmed -- made their submissions on the discharge petitions filed earlier. The hearing lasted for about two hours.

The six others are former home secretary and incumbent Election Commissioner Shafiur Rahman, former director of Narcotics Control Department Syed Bazlul Karim, former students relationship officer at the education ministry Abu Alam Shahid Khan, former deputy inspector general of police Prokriti Ranjan Chanda (PR Chanda) and former president of the Secretariat Karmachari Sanjukta Parishad Syed Mohiuddin.

The investigation officer (IO) of the case pressed charges against ex-public servant Dr Alamgir and seven others on December 26 last year.

Mohammad Saifur Rahman, the then officer-in-charge (OC) of Ramna Police Station, filed the sedition case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka on April 8 last year, accusing Dr Alamgir and six others of sedition.

Later, the IO included the name of PR Chanda in the charge sheet as probe found his 'involvement'.

In the case, it was alleged that the accused had set up a Janatar Mancha (people's dais) in front of the Jatiya Press Club in March, 1996 and instigated the government officials and employees to join the agitation against the then BNP government.

All the accused except for PR Chanda are on bail now.