Arrest of BNP top brass ordered

A Dhaka court yesterday issued arrest warrants against 27 leaders and activists of BNP-led 20-party alliance, including Rafiqul Islam Mia, in a case filed for instigating arson on a bus in the capital's Mirpur during their anti-government movement on January 28 this year.

Meanwhile, another Dhaka court yesterday accepted the charges against BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee member Moudud Ahmed and 24 other party men in a case filed for vandalising vehicles in the capital's Paltan on March 2, 2013.

Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah of Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court issued the arrest warrants after accepting the charges against 42 BNP leaders and activists, including the 27 wanted in the Mirpur arson case.

The court directed the officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station to submit reports by July 8 on execution of arrest warrants.

On April 22, Mirpur police pressed charges against the 42 BNP-led alliance men. Of the accused, eleven BNP men, including Rizvi Ahmed and Mosaddak Ali Falu, are now in jail while 27 others, including Rafiqul and Shimul Biswas, are absconding. Four others, including Advocate Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia, are on bail.

Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzamn Nur took cognizance of the charges against Fakhrul, Moudud and 24 others in the Paltan vandalism case. On May 11, the investigation officer submitted the charge sheet against them.