SC stays HC bail to Rana

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed until July 1 a High Court verdict that granted bail to Amanur Rahman Khan Rana, former Awami League lawmaker from Tangail-3, in a murder case.

Chamber Judge of the SC’s Appellate Division Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed the order following a government petition seeking a stay on the HC judgment.

The judge also sent the government plea to the apex court’s full bench for its hearing on July 1.

Following the SC order, Rana cannot walk out of jail until its further order, Deputy Attorney General Md Bashir Ullah told The Daily Star.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam moved the government petition while Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury and Rusho Mostofa appeared for Rana.

Citing the government petition, Bashir said three accused of the case made confessional statements about Rana’s involvement in the murder of Jubo League activists -- Shamim and Mamun -- in 2012.

Rana was charge-sheeted in the case, he said, adding that the charge sheet was not placed before the HC during hearing of his bail petition.

The HC on Wednesday gave permanent bail to Rana in the murder case, clearing the way for his release from prison.

Shamim and Mamun were killed on the orders of Amanur and his brother Jahidur Rahman Khan Kakon in Tangail in July 2012, said Ashoke Kumar Sinha, investigation officer of the case.

Mamun’s father Abdul Aziz lodged the murder case with a Tangail court on July 9 in 2013 against 13 people and Tangail Model Police Station recorded the case on September 21 that year as per the Tangail court order. Rana was shown arrested in the case in May last year.