Dhaka: The High Court (HC) on Wednesday asked the authorities of Kashimpur Women’s Central Jail to produce four female prisoners, who have been languishing in jail for seven-eight years in four separate murder cases without trial, before the court on 16 January 2017.

A two-member HC bench comprising Justice Mohammad Enayetur Rahim and Justice JBM Hassan passed the suo moto order.

The court also asked the authorities concerned to explain why the four women prisoners will not be granted bail.

Besides, the HC also sought files and documents of the four separate cases.

The four female prisoners are: Rani alias Nupur, hailing from Mymensingh, Razia Sultana of Gazipur district, Shahnaz Begum and Sumi Akter Reshma, residents of Narayanganj district.

Nupur was sent to jail in on 21 November, 2009 while Razia on 21 May, 2009, Shahnaz on 16 September 2008, and Sumi landed in jail on 15 January 2009.

Later, they were produced before the court several times during the hearings but the cases have not been disposed yet.

SC Legal Aid Committee member Ainur Nahar Siddiqua brought the information to the attention of the HC bench on Wednesday.