Dispose of murder case trial in six months

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the lower court concerned to finish in six months the trial proceedings of a murder case filed in connection with the death of 1,135 garment workers after the collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar in April 2013.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order after holding hearing on a leave to appeal petition filed by the state challenging a HC verdict which granted bail to Sohel Rana, owner of Rana Plaza, in the murder case.
The apex court also extended its earlier order that stayed the High Court verdict which granted bail to Sohel Rana, owner of Rana Plaza, in the murder case.
The apex court said the lower court could consider the bail petition of Sohel Rana if it couldn't finish the trial proceedings of the case in six months, Sohel Rana's lawyer Md Quamrul Islam told reporters.
On April 6 in 2023, the High Court granted bail to Sohel Rana in the murder case filed in connection with the death of 1,135 garment workers.
Later on April 9 in 2023, the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division stayed the High Court verdict and sent the matter to the regular bench of the Appellate Division for detail hearing on it. The apex court on May 8 in 2023 extended the stay order till July 10.
The apex court on July 10 in 2023 extended the stay order for six months also kept stand over (waiting for hearing) the petition filed by the state challenging the HC verdict. Accordingly the petition came on Monday for hearing.
Lawyer Qamrul earlier said the number of accused in the case is 41 including Sohel Rana. Three of them, including Sohel Rana's father Abdul Khalek died. Thirty-seven out of remaining 38 accused except Sohel Rana were now on bail, the lawyer said.
The case was filed on charge of negligence in constructing the building, murder charge was included in the case later on, he added.
Qamrul said Sohel Rana might have liabilities for the collapse of Rana Plaza, but he had the right to get justice.
However, the engineers of Rajuk, who approved the plan of the building, and owners of the garment factories there, had also liabilities for the incident, he added.
At least 1,136 people, mostly garment workers, were killed and over 2,500 others injured as the nine-storey building came crashing down in Savar on April 24, 2013.
Hours after the disaster, Wali Ashraf, sub-inspector of Savar Police Station, had filed the murder case against building owner Sohel Rana, his father and several others.
The Criminal Investigation Department of Police on May 24, 2015 pressed charges against Sohel Rana and 41 others in the murder case.
On July 18, 2016, the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court framed charges against the 41 accused, including Sohel Rana, also a former Jubo League leader in Savar, in the case.

[email protected]