Why Bashundhara Group chief's son acquitted of Sabbir murder charge: HC

The High Court has asked why the verdict acquitting Bashundhara Group chief's son Shafiyat Sobhan Sanvir and four others of charges of murdering Humayun Kabir Sabbir, a director of a concern of the conglomerate in 2006, should not be overturned.

The court issued the rule on Sunday on hearing a petition filed by the State challenging the 2011 verdict.

The High Court gave the authorities four weeks to come up with explanations.

It also ordered the five acquitted persons to surrender before the lower court within six weeks.

A court official said the lower court was ordered to grant them bail if they complied with the order.

The others acquitted of the murder charge are Bashundhara Group Director Shamsuddin Ahmed, Sanvir's bodyguard Khairul Hassan Ujjal and two guards Nure Alam and Humayun Kabir.

In the 2011 verdict, a speedy trial tribunal said the prosecution had failed to produce witnesses and evidence.

Sabbir, a director of Bashundhara Telecommunications Network Ltd, was killed at a house owned by Bashundhara Group at Gulshan in the city on July 5, 2006.

Police said in the chargesheet he was pushed off the roof of a Bashundhara Group building in Gulshan.

Sanvir fled abroad allegedly with the help of then BNP state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar after the murder.

The Anti Corruption Commission prosecuted Babar and BNP's Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman on charges of hushing up the incident in return for money.