Dhaka: The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the 20 accused languishing in different jails for long without trial should not be granted bail.

It also ordered the jail authorities concerned to produce 10 of the accused before the court on February 23 while five others on February 26 and remaining five on February 28, and sought documents of cases filed against them.

Two HC benches passed the suo moto orders after Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee’s panel lawyers Syeda Sabina Ahmed Moli and Anich Ul Mawa brought to court’s notice.

An HC bench comprising Justice M Nuruzzaman and Justice SHM Nurul Huda Jaigirdar asked the jail authorities concerned to produce on February 23 next the 10 accused, who were in different jails of Khulna and Sylhet divisions for more than 10 years without trial, before the court.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why they should not be given bail.

The 10 accused --Faruk Hossain, Selim Miah, Raju Jagnath, Bashir Uddin, Habibur Rahman, Moniruzzaman Munna, Nasir Uddin, Giasuddin, Haider Ali and Rafiqul –- are now in Moulvibazar, Brahmanbaria, Satkhita, Jhenidah and Pirojpur jails.

They are accused in separate cases filed for killing and under the Explosive Substances Act.

Besides, another HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath issued another rule to know why the 10 accused suffering in different jails of Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions without trial should not be granted bail.

The 10 accused are Nazrul Islam, Siraj, Alam Miah, Motiur, Foyen, Kalam, Abdul Khalek, Apur Dash, Toeab Sheikh and M Sumon. They are in now Mymensingh, Pabna, Natore, Rajshahi, Jessore and Khulna jails.

They are accused in separate cases filed for killing and under the Explosive Substances Act and Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.