The home ministry monitoring cell yesterday ordered a quick disposal of seven sensational murder cases after proper investigation.

The directive came from a meeting at the home ministry, with State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar in the chair.

Quick investigations were ordered into the killings of Zakir in Chittagong, Madan Gopal Goswami in Khagrachhari, police informer Safi Ahmed Jalal, Abdul Kader and Sultana Khan Panni in Dhaka, Dr Aftab in Sylhet and monk Gyanojyoti murder in Raozan.

The state minister inquired about the latest on the cases from investigation officers and ordered hastening the disposal of the cases.

Cabinet Secretary Sa'dat Hussain, Attorney General AF Hassan Ariff, Home Secretary Omar Farooq and Inspector General of Police Shahudul Haque, among others, were present.

The cell pegged 209 cases as sensitive: 35 of them were transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal, 73 are with other courts, 31 were disposed of, 49 are under investigation and 10 were given final reports as charges were not proved.

The Speedy Trial Act has dealt with 253 of 513 cases since October 24, 2002, in which 201 people were convicted and 52 cleared of charges, meeting sources said.

Sixty people were given death penalty and 166 sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 20 years, 110 for 10 to 20 years and 86 for one to 10 years.