HC show-causes Feni judge, PP

The High Court yesterday issued a show-cause notice to the judge and public prosecutor (PP) of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal of Feni for their failure to finish the trial proceedings of a woman's murder case in 180 days, and for not giving any explanation about it.

The court also issued the same show-cause notice to the investigation officer (IO) of the case.

The three respondents have been asked to place their explanation to the HC on April 30, on why they failed to finish the trial proceedings of the Rehana Aktar killing case filed on April 24, 2016.

According to Section 20 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act-2000, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal must finish trials of cases filed under this law within 180 days of charge-framing.

If the trial of a case is not finished on time, the tribunal judge, public prosecutor and police officer concerned have to submit separate reports to the SC and government, mentioning causes for the delay, and then the authorities concerned should take necessary steps, states the Section 31 (Ka) of the law.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order during hearing a petition filed by Mortuja alias Mintu, an accused of the case and husband of Rehana, seeking bail in the case.

During hearing of the bail petition, Mortuja's lawyer Md Shahidul told the court that his client has been suffering in jail for around four years, as the trial proceedings of the case were not finished.

The HC bench fixed April 30 for further hearing on the issue. Assistant Attorney General Yousuf Mahmud Morshed represented the state.