A Dhaka court on Monday deferred witness testimony in the murder case over the killing of scrap trader Lal Chand, also known as Md Sohag, outside Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (Mitford Hospital) in Old Dhaka, setting August 3 as the next hearing date.
Dhaka's First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Alamgir passed the order after defence lawyers sought a stay on proceedings pending the disposal of a no-confidence petition filed against the court.
Court bench assistant Riaz Hossain said the case had been scheduled for witness testimony on Monday. However, the defence requested that all proceedings remain suspended until the no-confidence petition is resolved. The court subsequently adjourned the hearing until August 3.
The no-confidence petition was filed on July 19 by one of the accused, Mahmudul Hasan Mahin, through his lawyer, Mashrur Hossain. The petition is yet to be heard.
The case names 21 accused: Mahmud Hasan Mahin, Alamgir, Monir alias Lamba Monir, Nannu alias Nannu Kazi, Sajib alias Sajib Bepari, Titon Gazi, Tarique Rahman Robin, Zahirul Islam, Parvez, Sagar, Rizwan Uddin alias Abhijit Basu alias Abhi, Ruman Bepari, Abir Hossain, Zahir, Imran Hossain, Sharafat alias Shafiul Islam, Hossain Chowkidar, Ziauddin Rajib, Sarwar Hossain Titu, Monir alias Chhoto Monir and Apu Das.
According to the prosecution, Shohag was brutally killed around 6:00 pm on July 9, 2025, on Rajani Ghosh Lane near Gate No 3 of Mitford Hospital, where a group of assailants repeatedly struck him with stones before hacking him with sharp weapons.
His elder sister, Manjuara Begum, filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station the following day against 19 named accused and 15 to 20 unidentified individuals.
After the initial investigation, then-Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman submitted a charge sheet against 21 accused on December 8, 2025, while recommending the discharge of 10 others for lack of evidence. However, the court ordered a fresh investigation, citing flaws in the probe.
Following the reinvestigation, Kotwali Police Station Inspector Shah Md Faisal Ahmed submitted a supplementary charge sheet against the same 21 accused on May 10, 2026. The court had framed charges against the accused on January 12, formally opening the trial.
The victim, Sohag, was the son of Yusuf Ali Hawlader of Purba Namabari village under Keraniganj Model Police Station. He had been running a scrap business on Rajani Ghosh Lane in the Mitford area for many years.