Khaleda sued for 'murder' of 42 people

A Dhaka court yesterday asked Gulshan police to investigate the charges against Khaleda Zia and three others in connection with the killing of 42 people during the non-stop blockade enforced by the BNP-led alliance.

It also asked police to submit the probe report within a month.

Magistrate Atikur Rahman of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court gave the order in response to a case filed against Khaleda and BNP leaders Rafiqul Islam Mia, Shamser Mobin Chowdhury and pro-BNP intellectual Prof Emajuddin Ahmed.

AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, filed the case with the CMM court.

In the complaint, Siddique claimed: "Khaleda Zia masterminded the incidents of killing while the rest instigated the incidents."

Sanaullah Mia, one of the counsels and advisers of Khaleda, said the BNP chief had been continuing the agitation programme in a peaceful manner.

She is virtually confined to her Gulshan office and is not involved in arson attacks on public transport, he said, adding: "The case was filed to harass her."

Earlier, Khaleda has been accused in three more cases filed by police -- two with Jatrabari Police Station and the other with Chauddagram Police Station in Comilla -- of masterminding the arson attacks on public transport during the countrywide blockade.   

All the three cases are now under police investigation.

Amid such a situation, the new case was filed against Khaleda and three others with the CMM court around 10:00 am yesterday.

After an hour, the magistrate recorded the statement of AB Siddique and took cognizance of the charges against Khaleda and others.

In his petition, Siddique said the BNP-led 20-party men threw petrol bombs at transports and blasted crude bombs during the non-stop movement, leaving 42 people killed and hundreds injured.

He also appealed to the court to issue arrest warrants against Khaleda and three others and send them to jail.

Talking to The Daily Star, Siddique said he had declared a 'jihad' against Khaleda and others to bring them to book for their alleged involvement in such heinous offences committed since January 5.