After hearing a petition filed by advocate Abdul Majid Khan, complainant of the case, chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury passed the order and asked the petitioner to file a regular appeal by this time for a full-bench hearing in the Appellate Division.

Advocate Majid, Habiganj district Awami League's organising secretary, in his leave-to-appeal petition sought a stay on further proceedings of the murder case and challenged a High Court order that had rejected his plea for further investigation into the sensational case.

On May 4, 2005, Majid prayed in the district judge court for further investigation. As the court discharged the petition, he filed a writ petition in the High Court and sought cancellation of the charge sheet and a direction for further investigation into the case.

An HC division on November 21, 2005, rejected the petition and directed him to settle the matter in the trial court. Against this directive, Majid filed the application in the Appellate Division yesterday.

Dr Kamal Hossain and advocate Mahbubey Alam moved for the petitioner while Additional Attorney General Abdur Razzak Khan assisted by Helaluddin Mollah for the government.

TRIAL BEGINS IN SYLHET
As trial of the Kibira murder case began in the Speedy Trial Tribunal of Sylhet yesterday, defence lawyers challenged the charge sheet terming it 'incomplete and faulty' and appealed to the court not to accept it.

However, the court discharged the prayer and charges were framed against eight out of 10 accused in the case. Judge Biplob Goswami then fixed February 22 and 23 for recording depositions of the witnesses, reports our staff correspondent at Sylhet.

The lawyers later told newsmen that they would move to the High Court soon and pray for cancellation of the charge sheet. During the court proceedings, all the accused claimed themselves as innocent.

The eight accused, who had been in different jails were brought to the Sylhet Central Jail last week and produced before the trial court yesterday. They are Abdul Quaiyum, Jamir Ali, Shahed Ali, Jainal Abedin Jalal, Tajul Islam, Selim Ahmed, Ayat Ali and Jainal Abedin Momin.

Two other accused, Muhibur Rahman and Kajol, have been absconding since the January 27, 2005 grenade attack that killed Kibria and four others moments after the Awami League lawmaker addressed a public meeting at Baidder Bazar in Habiganj Sadar uapzila.

The authorities took tight security measures in and around the court building where the accused were brought with helmets on their heads.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Munshi Atiqur Rahman on March 20, 2005, submitted the charge sheet in the case accusing 10 people -- all are leaders, activists and supporters of the ruling BNP.

After the grenade attack, Advocate Majid filed two cases -- one for murder of the former minister and another under Explosive Substances Act. The charge sheet in the second case was submitted on April 20 last year accusing the same 10 people. Its trial is yet to begin.