SC extends stay on HC bail of Rana Plaza owner till July 10

The Supreme Court today extended till July 10 its chamber judge's order that stayed the High Court verdict granting bail to Sohel Rana, owner of Rana Plaza, which collapsed in April 2013 and left at least 1,136 dead.

A full bench of the Appellate Division of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, passed the order following a leave to appeal petition filed by the state challenging the HC verdict.

The apex court also fixed July 10 for further hearing of the petition, Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi told The Daily Star.

He also said Sohel Rana cannot get released from jail following the SC order.

The SC chamber judge on April 9 stayed till today the HC verdict that on April 6 granted bail to Sohel Rana in the murder case.

Justice Md Abu Jafor Siddique, chamber judge of the Appellate Division, also sent the state's petition to its full bench for further hearing on May 8.

On April 6, the HC granted bail to Rana in the case following a bail petition filed by him.

His lawyer Qamrul told The Daily Star that day that his client has been suffering in jail for 10 years in the case.

There are 594 witnesses in this case, but the trial court has recorded statements from only 35 in the last 10 years, he added.