HC stays hearing by lower court, issues rule nisi

The HC also issued a rule nisi on the relevant authorities to show cause why the case would not be transferred from the Barisal court, court sources here said.

The HC ruling by a Vacation Bench comprising Justice A B M Khairul Huq and Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury followed a writ by the AL leaders in the HC earlier on Tuesday.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Laskar Nurul Huq, president of Barisal district Awami Ainjibi Parishad, who is among the 32 accused, filed the writ under Section 526 of CRPC for transfer of their case from the lower court in Barisal.

All the 32 are now on two month's interim bail, granted by the HC on August 23.

Earlier, hearing was scheduled for September 13 (Monday) at a Barisal Magistrate Court whether charges would be framed against the 32 accused.

The case against the 32 was lodged under the Speedy Trial Act on August 14 after some vehicles were ransacked during an AL procession in the town when the party leaders and workers were on the their way to Tungipara to join Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman's death anniversary celebration there.

The lower court in Barisal then ordered confiscation of movable properties of the accused as they went into hiding to avoid arrest.