The Supreme Court today scrapped a High Court verdict that granted bail to Halimul Haque Miru, the suspended mayor of Shahzadpur municipality in Sirajganj, in connection with journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul murder case.

The apex court also directed the trial court concerned to finish the trial proceedings of the case in next six months.

Shimul, Shahzadpur correspondent of the daily Samakal, was hit when Miru allegedly opened fire during a factional clash of ruling Awami League on February 2, 2017. Shimul died the next day.

The following day, his wife Nurunnahar Khatun filed a murder case with Shahzadpur Police Station against Miru, his two brothers and 15 others. On November 4 last year, High Court (HC) granted bail to Miru in the case.

Today, the Appellate Division of the SC asked the trial court to grant bail to Miru if it cannot finish the trial of the case in six months, Advocate AM Aminuddin, the lawyer for Miru, told The Daily Star.

A four-member bench of Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing a leave to appeal petition filed by Shimul's wife Nurunnahar challenging the HC verdict.

Following the order of the apex court, Miru cannot get released from jail.

Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for Nurun Nahar.