The High Court today (November 6) ordered two former Awami League MPs HBM Iqbal and Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon along with 13 others to surrender in connection with a case filed for the killing of four people at a BNP rally in Malibagh in 2001.

The HC bench of Justice Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Sagir Hossain ordered them to surrender before the District and Sessions Court Dhaka-8.

The High Court issued the order after staying the trial court’s 2010 verdict that acquitted the accused in the case.

The order followed a petition by advocate Eunus Ali Mridha, former BNP president of Khilgaon Thana, who filed the case in 2001, his lawyer, Advocate Aminul Islam, told The Business Standard.

According to the case document, on February 13, 2001, a clash broke out between a rally led by HBM Iqbal and a BNP rally at Malibagh Junction.

Four BNP activists — Jasim Uddin, Khokon, Abdur Rashid Molla and Najma Akhtar — were killed in a firing incident at the assembly.

On 29 December 2002, an indictment was filed against 24 people, including HBM Iqbal, in connection with the incident.

However, in 2010, the Speedy Trial Court 1 in Dhaka acquitted 15 accused. The trial against the remaining accused continued.

Lawyer Aminul said the judge did not provide any detailed reasons for the acquittal. Hence, after a change of government, the petitioner filed a petition in the HC.

“Hearing the request, the court ordered the 15 accused to surrender. If they do not surrender within the stipulated time, they will be arrested,” he added.