Shimul murder case in Speedy Trial Tribunal; trial unobstructed

The Appellate Division on Thursday suspended the High Court's (HC) appeal for suspending the trial of Sirajganj journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul murder case, and cleared way for continuing the trial. 

Due to the order, the Speedy Trial Tribunal in Rajshahi did not prevent the case from proceeding, the lawyers said.

Chamber Justice Hasan Faiz Siddiqui passed the order on Thursday after the state filed a petition.

The court also forwarded the state's appeal to a regular Appellate Division bench, and fixed October 14 for the next hearing.

Advocate Abdul Alim Jewel stood for the defence while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam was the public prosecutor. 

On August 29, 2018, the HC stayed the trial of the Shimul murder case for 6 months. At the same time, the HC issued a rule asking why the transfer of the case to the Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal would not be illegal.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Quader passed the order after hearing a writ petition. Later, the state appealed to the Appellate Division.

On December 28, 2018, the Shimul murder case was transferred from a Sirajganj court to the Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal for faster disposal. A notification was issued on that day. 

Habibul Haque Mintu and some other people accused in the case filed a writ petition at the HC challenging the notification.

At present, charges are being framed in the Shimul murder case at the Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal.

On February 2, 2017, Shimul was shot in the head while covering a clash between a Chhatra League faction and Shahjadpur Mayor Halimul Haque Miru's supporters after the abduction of Shahjadpur Upazila Chhatra League president Bijoy Mahmud. The journalist passed away a day later.  

Shimul's wife Nurun Nahar filed a case against 18 people, including the mayor.

On May 2, 2017, police submitted a charge sheet against 38 people.