HC summons Habiganj judge for failing to complete rape-murder trial in 5 years

The High Court today summoned a Habiganj court judge for failing to complete the trial proceedings in a rape and murder case over the past five years.

Judge Syeda Minhaj Um Munira of Habiganj’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal has been directed to appear before the High Court bench of Justice KM Emrul Kayesh and Justice Md Sagir Hossain on June 23 to explain the delay in the trial.

The bench delivered the order on a suo moto (voluntary) move during the hearing of a bail petition filed by Golam Hossain, a detained accused in the rape and murder case, Deputy Attorney General Md Mohsin Kabir Rocky told The Daily Star.

He said that, examining the case documents, the High Court judges noted that the trial of the rape and murder case filed in December 2021 had still not been concluded despite the passage of five years.

The court then summoned Judge Syeda Minhaj Um Munira to hear her explanation on the delay and fixed June 23 for further hearing on the bail petition.

The bench also observed that the failure to conclude the trial within the prescribed timeframe contributes to the continued occurrence of incidents similar to Ramisa rape and murder, he said.

DAG Mohsin Kabir said the rape and murder case was filed with Habiganj's Nabiganj Police Station on December 28, 2021, after a 17-year-old girl of Baghaura village under Nabiganj upazila was raped and murdered between December 26 and December 27 in 2021.

The victim’s father filed the case against Khalil Uddin and Md Golam Hossain, who are now in jail.

Trial proceedings of the case are supposed to be completed in 180 days after its charges are framed by the trial court concerned, DAG Mohsin added.

Advocate Md Abdur Razzak appeared for accused petitioner Golam Hossain during the hearing of his bail petition today.