HC asks govt to explain why two murder accused will not get bail

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in 10 days why two under-trial prisoners of Kishoreganj jail, who are mentally challenged, should not be granted bail in two murder cases.

The two -- Shafiqul Islam Swapan, 35, and Sabed Ali, 55, from Kishoreganj -- have been languishing in the jail since 2001 and 2003 respectively, in connection with the two separate cases.

Issuing a suo moto (of its won) rule, the court asked the prison authorities to produce the duo before it on January 19 for hearing their statements.

The HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath also ordered the prison authorities to submit the records of the cases against Swapan and Sabed before it on January 19.

The court came up with the rule and order after Supreme Court lawyer Cumar Debul Dey told the court that the two prisoners had reportedly been suffering in jail with little progress of their trial proceedings.

He prayed to the court to pass necessary orders in this regard.