Dhaka: The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why suspended Sylhet city mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury should not be granted bail in the former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria murder case.

An HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Mozibur Rahman Miah issued the rule following a petition.

The government has been asked to reply to the rule within 10 days.

Barrister Mainul Hossain stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Dr Mohammad Bashir Ullah represented the state.

Earlier on May 17, the High Court rejected a bail petition of Ariful Haque Chowdhury in the Shah AMS Kibria murder case.

The High Court on March 22 granted bail to Ariful for 15 days on the grounds that his mother was ill, and asked him to surrender before the lower court on the expiry of the bail.

After the expiry of the bail period, Ariful filed the bail petition.

Five people, including Kibria, were killed and 70 others injured in a grenade attack on a public rally of local Awami League at Baidder Bazar in Sadar upazila of Habiganj district on January 27, 2005.

After the incident, Awami League leader Abdul Mozid Khan filed two cases—one for murder and another under the Explosives Substances Act—with Habiganj Police Station the following day.