Court asks for probe report on Khaleda by March 3

A Dhaka court yesterday asked Gulshan police to submit by March 3 the probe report on the case against the BNP chief and three others for killing 42 people during the BNP-led alliance-enforced anti-government movement last year.

With this, the court gave it seven times to complete the investigation and submit a report before the court.

The order came after the police station failed to submit any report before it yesterday.

The other accused are BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia, former BNP vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and pro-BNP intellectual Prof Emajuddin Ahmed.

"Khaleda Zia masterminded the incidents of killing while the rest three instigated the incidents," AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, said in his complaint.

On February 2 last year, Siddique filed the case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and three others with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.

The complainant says the BNP-led 20-party men blasted petrol bombs and crude bombs during the movement that continued over three months since January 5 last year, killing 42 people and injuring hundreds.

The blockade began after the government did not allow the BNP to hold a rally marking the first anniversary of January 5 election as "democracy killing day".