Govt seeks stay on HC orders

The government yesterday sought the Supreme Court's stay on the High Court orders that directed Gaibandha lawmaker Manzurul Islam Liton to surrender before a lower court by October 18.

The Awami League lawmaker from Gaibandha-1 is accused in two cases for allegedly shooting a 10-year-old boy in the district and looting and vandalising a house soon after the firing.

The attorney general's office yesterday filed two petitions with the SC, seeking stay on the HC orders.

Talking to The Daily Star, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the SC chamber judge will hear the petitions today.

If the SC stays the HC orders, law enforcers won't hesitate to nab the accused legislator, he added.

On Monday, the HC rejected two bail petitions of Liton and ordered him to surrender to the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court of Gaibandha by October 18 in connection with the two cases. 

Around 6:00am on October 2, the lawmaker shot fourth grader Sourav Mia in both legs when the boy was taking a morning walk with his uncle at Gopalcharan village in Gaibandha, said Sourav's family members.

The following day, the victim's father filed a case with Sundarganj Police Station, accusing Liton of attempted murder. Sourav is now receiving treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

The other case was filed on October 6 against Liton and nine “of his men” on charges of vandalising a house and looting furniture and corrugated tin sheets from its roof in a Gaibandha village soon after the shooting.