Dhaka: The Supreme Court on Tuesday started hearing on a petition filed by the state against a High Court order asking for the implementation of a 15-point guideline for the reform of the provisions of arrest without warrant and interrogation on remand under sections 54 and 167 of the CrPC.

A four-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, heard the petition and fixed May 11 for the next hearing.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Additional Attorney General Murad Reza led the hearing for the state while Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister M Amir-ul Islam and Barrister Sara Hossain represented the petitioner.

Earlier on January 20, the Appellate Division asked the government what steps had been taken regarding the HC guideline.

The SC directed the government to submit a progress report in this connection.

Talking to reporters, the lawyers for the petitioners noted that the state could not submit the report before the court.

Dr Kamal Hossain said the HC in 2003 passed an order with a guideline to reform the sections 54 and 167 of the Criminal Procedures (CrPC).

The Appellate Division asked the government to submit a progress report on the HC directives but the government could not do it, he said.

Earlier in 1998, assistant commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB) of police Akram Hossian arrested Shamim Reza, a student of Independent University, under section 54 of the CrPC. The student died in police custody later.

As Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust filed a writ petition with the High Court in 2003, the court asked the government to take steps to amend the relevant sections of the CrPC. The court also gave 15 directives for amending it.

In 2004, the then four-party alliance government filed an appeal petition against the verdict of HC.

The Appellate Division took cognizance of the petition in but it did not halt the directions.