Police disperse BNP supporters gathered outside court

Police have dispersed BNP supporters gathered outside a Dhaka court after party chief Khaleda Zia reached there to appear in graft cases.

Witnesses said police charged baton to disperse the supporters when brickbats were hurled at them outside the Dhaka Third Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court.

The graft cases in 'Zia Orphanage Trust’ and ‘Zia Charitable Trust’ are being heard at that court set up at the grounds of the Aliya Madrasa at the capital's Bakshibazar area.

BNP activists had gathered around the street leading to the court since Wednesday morning.

Senior pro BNP lawyers and senior party leaders were also present at the court when the party chairperson arrived there around 1 pm.

Additional forces were deployed in the area since morning. Archway-type metal detectors were also installed at the entry points to the court.

Law enforcers have also stopped traffic movement on the street between Chawkbazar and Bakhsibazar.

Police prevented BNP leaders and activists from entering the court as soon as Khaleda Zia got off her car and went inside.

BNP activists hurled stones when the police charged batons and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Assistant Commissioner (Lalbagh zone) Mehedi Hasan said that they did not allow BNP activists to enter the court due to security reasons.