Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the adjournment order and fixed June 3 for submission of the High Court (HC) stay order following a time petition by the defence lawyers.

Moving yesterday's petition, the defence lawyers argued that they had earlier submitted a criminal review petition to the HC seeking stay on the proceedings of the case.

Following the hearing, a division bench of the HC stayed the proceedings of the case and directed the trial court to proceed with the case filed against Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina and 45 others and the case against Jamaat simultaneously.

The nine other accused are former minister and Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Qamaruzzaman, Central Nayab-e-Ameer Mokbul Ahmed, Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam, Dhaka city Ameer Rafikul Islam, Paltan Ameer ATM Sirajul Islam, Islami Chhatra Shibir (student wing of Jamaat) President Shafikul Islam Masud, General Secretary Zahid Hossain and president of its Dhaka University unit Shishir Monir.

On April 11, investigation officer (IO) of the case Sub-inspector AKM Idris Hossain of Detective Branch of police pressed charges against the 10 Jamaat and Shibir leaders.

The IO showed 45 people as prosecution witnesses in the charge sheet.

Activists of Jamaat and Shibir on October 28 last year had gathered in front of the north gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque and launched an attack on a procession of Awami League-led 14-party alliance. The attack sparked a fierce street battle between the two sides. Shibir activists were seen firing shots while their rivals launched a counter attack with boat-paddles and sticks.

Following a case filed by Workers Party leader Kamrul Ahsan, charges were brought against the accused for organising unlawful assembly, inflicting injuries to people, murder, and aiding and abetting criminal activities.