Appellate Division suspends bail of prime accused in Sohag murder case

The Appellate Division’s Chamber Court on Sunday suspended the bail of Mahmudul Hasan Mahin, the prime accused in the widely discussed murder of scrap trader Lal Chand, better known as Sohag, near Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka.

Chamber Judge Md Rezaul Haque passed the order on October 4 following a petition by the state challenging the High Court order that granted Mahin six months’ interim bail.

Mahin has been described in the case as a Jubo Dal leader.

A High Court bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Syed Hasan Zubair granted him interim bail on September 28.

The court also issued a rule asking why Mahin should not be granted permanent bail. The bail order, however, became public on October 1.

Lawyer Mohammad Asaduzzaman represented Mahin during the High Court hearing.

Deputy Attorney General Syeda Sazia Sharmin had said the High Court granted the interim bail on the grounds that there were no specific allegations against Mahin.

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kajal later said the state would move the Appellate Division seeking a stay on the bail order.

The Chamber Court suspended the bail on Sunday after hearing the state’s petition.

According to case documents, 39-year-old Sohag was attacked on Rajani Ghosh Lane near Mitford Hospital on July 9 last year.

The assailants allegedly hacked him with sharp weapons before repeatedly striking him with bricks and stones in public, killing him at the scene.

Footage of the killing spread widely on social media, sparking outrage across the country.

The following day, Sohag’s elder sister, Manjuara Begum, filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station, naming 19 people and accusing another 15 to 20 unidentified individuals.

Following the investigation, Dhaka’s First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court framed charges against 21 people on July 12 this year and ordered the trial to begin.

--