MK Anwar denied bail, sent to jail

A Comilla court yesterday sent BNP leader MK Anwar to jail in a case relating to a petrol bomb attack on a bus in Chauddagram upazila on February 2.

Senior Judicial Magistrate ASM Shahidullah Kaiser of Session's Court-5 passed the order after rejecting his bail prayer in the case.

The 84-year-old BNP standing committee member appeared before the magistrate and sought bail, his counsel Harunur Rashid told reporters.

Eight people were killed and 28 injured in the attack on the Dhaka-bound bus from Cox's Bazar on Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Police later filed two cases in this connection under the Explosives Substance Act, accusing 56 people of the crime.

The High Court on July 9 granted Anwar bail in the case for four weeks. But the bail order was stayed by the Supreme Court on July 27 after the government had appealed against the HC order. The SC also asked Anwar to appear before the lower court within a week.

Anwar appeared before the Comilla court on August 3, but the case proceedings didn't commence on that day as the case documents didn't reach the court.

During the hearing on the bail prayer yesterday, Anwar's counsel Harunur Rashid claimed that the case was meant to harass his client. "His [Anwar] name was not included in the First Information Report."

At one stage, Anwar told the court that he had performed duties as a magistrate of the court for 13 years.

"I was also elected lawmaker for five times, minister for several times and served the government as a cabinet secretary. Is it believable that at the age of 84 I will come to Chauddagram from Dhaka to instigate a petrol bomb attack? Do you believe that? I therefore urge you to ensure justice to me," he added.

 The BNP-led 20-party alliance enforced a three-month-long blockade and series of hartals from January 6, demanding a fresh national election under a polls-time government.

A correspondent from Comilla contributed to this report.