The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday directed BNP leader Mahtab Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury Minar, the prime suspect in the Feni Awami League leader Ekramul Haque murder case, to surrender before a trial court within two weeks.
Responding to a state petition, Chamber Judge Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order after staying a High Court order that had granted Minar six months’ bail.
During the hearing, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, assisted by Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Haque Tutul, contended for the state while Barrister Rafique-Ul Huq pleaded for Minar.
The suspect was freed from Feni District Jail on July 17 after he got bail from the High Court bench of Justice Borhanuddin and Justice KM Kamrul Kader on health grounds.
Deputy Attorney General Tutul told the Dhaka Tribune: “There is a specific allegation against Minar in the first information report. Other accused also said in their statements that the BNP leader was involved in Ekram’s murder on May 20. So, Minar’s freedom may influence the investigation of the murder case.”
If Minar did not surrender within the stipulated time, the law enforcers could arrest him, he added.
Ekramul Haque, chairman of Fulghazi upazila in Feni, was killed in broad daylight in Feni town on May 20.