A Dhaka court on Monday set 3 August for recording witness testimony in the murder case of scrap trader Lal Chand, alias Md Sohag, who was killed near Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital, widely known as Mitford Hospital, in Old Dhaka.
Judge Md Alamgir of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-1 fixed the new date, Bench Assistant Riaz Hossain said.
According to court sources, Monday had been fixed for recording witness testimony. However, defence counsel prayed for a stay of all proceedings until the disposal of their application expressing no confidence in the court. Following the plea, the judge fixed 3 August for the next hearing.
Earlier, on 12 July, the court framed the charges against 21 accused and formally initiated the trial.
The accused facing trial are: Md Mahmud Hasan Mahin alias Mahmudul Hasan (Mohin), Md Tarek Rahman Robin, Md Titon Gazi, Md Alamgir, Md Monir alias Lamba Monir, Md Sajib Bepari, Md Nanu Kazi, Md Rizwan Uddin alias Abhijit Basu, Md Zahirul Islam, Sagar, Md Ruman Bepari, Md Abir Hossain, Md Parvez, Md Zahirul alias Jalil, Md Imran, Md Sharafat alias Shafiul Islam, Md Ziauddin Rajib, Md Hossain Chowkidar, Md Sarwar Hossain Titu, Md Mangal Mia alias Monir Hossain, and Apu Das.
According to the case documents, Sohag, 39, son of Yusuf Ali Hawlader of Purba Namabari village under Keraniganj Model Police Station, had been running a scrap business on Rajani Ghosh Lane in the Mitford area for many years.
He was brutally hacked and repeatedly struck with stones by a group of attackers on Rajani Ghosh Lane near Mitford Hospital on 9 July 2025.
His elder sister, Manjuara Begum, filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station, naming 19 people as accused and implicating another 15 to 20 unidentified individuals the following day.
The then officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, Moniruzzaman, submitted the first charge sheet against 21 accused on 8 December 2025 while recommending the discharge of 10 others due to insufficient evidence.
However, the court found flaws in the investigation and ordered a fresh probe. Inspector Shah Md Faisal Ahmed of Kotwali Police Station submitted a supplementary charge sheet on 10 May, again accusing the same 21 individuals.
