Arrest warrant issued against 41 of BNP-led alliance including leaders

A Dhaka court yesterday issued an arrest warrant against 41 leaders and activists of BNP-led alliance, including Rafiqul Islam Mia and Khandker Mahbub Hossain, in a case filed over torching a vehicle in the capital's Jatrabari area on January 23 last year.

Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur issued the warrant after accepting the charge brought against the alliance's 58 leaders and activists in the case.

Of them, 17 accused including MK Anwar, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed and Amanullah Aman are now on bail.

The court fixed April 5 for the report submission on the execution of the warrant.

A day after the January 23 attack, Jatrabari police filed two cases accusing 68 BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders of torching and explosion during the countrywide blockade sponsored by the alliance last year.

Later, the cases were transferred to the Detective Branch (DB) of police. On July 22, detectives pressed charges against 58 accused.

Among  others, the accused include BNP leaders Barkatullah Bulu, Habibunnabi Khan Sohel, Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, Azizul Bari Helal, former BNP lawmaker Salauddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's advisor Shawkat Mahmud, her special assistant Shimul Biswas, and press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan.