Ex-lawmaker of BNP Papia sent to jail on surrender

Former BNP lawmaker Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia was sent to jail after she surrendered before a Dhaka Court yesterday in nine arson cases filed against her and several other party leaders during the BNP-led 20-party alliance's anti-government movement in January, February and March this year.

Three metropolitan magistrates rejected her all the bail petitions in the cases and ordered to send her to jail.

Earlier on May 25, Papia got four weeks ad-interim anticipatory bail from the High Court that directed her to appear before the lower court on expiry of the bail period.  Several other BNP leaders, including its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were also made accused in the cases.

Of the cases, five were filed with Paltan Police Station while three with Mirpur police and another with Lalbagh police.