High Court orders Gaibandha MP Liton to surrender in trial court

Gaibandha MP Manjurul Islam Liton has been ordered to surrender in trial court after the High Court scrapped his petitions seeking anticipatory bail.

The Awami League deputy stands accused of shooting a schoolboy in his constituency. He faces charges of looting and vandalism in another case.

On Oct 2, a 9-year-old was shot in his legs when Liton fired from his gun.

The legislator had not been seen in public after the incident until he surfaced on Monday as the High Court ordered him to appear before it to hear his bail petitions.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty turned down Liton’s petitions.

It ordered him to surrender in the court of Gaibandha’s Chief Judicial Magistrate by Sep 18.

On Sunday, Liton’s lawyer submitted the petitions to the court. They presented the matter in court on Monday when the High Court asked the MP to appear before it.

On Oct 2, fourth-grader Shahadat Hossain Sourav was wounded from shots fired allegedly by the lawmaker.

A case was filed the next day by the family.

The incident triggered a furore in Liton’s constituency with residents calling for cancellation of his Parliament membership.

Meanwhile, another resident from his constituency filed a case accusing the MP of looting and vandalism.

After the shootout, Liton's family surrendered his two firearms to police. The authorities later cancelled the permits for those.

Liton has been criticised by local Awami League leaders for his “controversial activities”.

They have alleged that the MP was also involved in many ‘nefarious acts’ in the past.