Dhaka, March 29 -- Seven years after the devastating fire at the Faruk Rupayan (FR) Tower in Banani, the trial into the tragedy faces new hurdles as defendants move the High Court to stay proceedings.

One defendant has already secured a stay order, while others are reportedly following suit, according to defence lawyers.

The 2019 blaze at the commercial high-rise at 32 Kamal Ataturk Avenue claimed 26 lives and left over 100 injured, many of whom died while attempting to escape the building.

Following the incident, police filed a case on Mar 30, 2019.

After two rounds of investigation -- first by the Detective Branch (DB) and later by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) -- a charge sheet was filed against eight individuals.

Notab...