The Supreme Court today stayed for four weeks a High Court order that granted bail to Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury Minar, the prime accused of Phulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque killing case.

Chamber Judge of Appellate Division of the SC Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the government seeking a stay on the High Court order.

Earlier on October 22, the HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil granted bail to Minar, a local BNP leader, after hearing a petition filed by him seeking bail in the case.

Minar’s lawyer Advocate Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury told The Daily Star that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on March 19 directed the lower court concerned in Feni to finish the trial proceedings of Ekramul killing case in six months.

The HC granted bail to Minar in the light of the SC order, Lawyer Munsurul said adding that there is no legal bar to the local BNP leader to get released from Feni jail following the HC order of bail.

Ekramul, 45, former president of the Phulgazi upazila Awami League (AL) unit, was shot and burnt to death in his car in Feni town's Academy area on May 20, 2014.

Rezaul Haque Jashim, the victim's brother, filed the murder case the same day with Feni Police Station, accusing Minar and 30 to 35 unidentified people.