Murder in Pallabi: 2 accused denied bail

A virtual court in Dhaka today rejected a bail petition of two accused in a case filed over the killing of businessman Shahinuddin in Dhaka's Pallabi area on May 16.

The accused are: Mohammad Titu (30), and Iqbal Noor (21).

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Tofazzal Hossain passed the order after their lawyer moved the bail petition through videoconferencing.

During the hearing, the defence told the court that their clients were implicated in the case to harass them. So, they should be granted bail, it said.

On the other hand, the prosecution said Titu was present on the spot and participated in the killing while Noor was also involved.

Moreover, Noor gave a confessional statement before a magistrate and that's why their bail petition should be rejected, the prosecution said.

Upon hearing both the sides, the magistrate turned down the bail petition.

On May 23, the two were placed on a four-day remand each in the case after they were arrested from different places in the country.

Six of the accused including Noor have given confessional statements before magistrates on different dates.

On May 16, a group led by Sumon Bepari stabbed Shahinuddin to death in front of his seven-year-old son at Mirpur-12 over a land dispute with MA Awal.

A day after the murder, Shahinuddin's mother Aklima Begum filed the case against 20 named -- including Awal -- and 13 to 14 unnamed accused with Pallabi Police Station.

Police have so far arrested 11 people including Awal in connection with the killing.