Another case charging Khaleda with 'instigating arson' lodged in Comilla

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who called the nationwide transport blockade earlier this month, has been accused in another case in Comilla for 'instigating arson'.

Comilla Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 Jan 2015, 06:52 PM
Updated : 26 Jan 2015, 06:52 PM

Police booked her in the case as the 'Hukumer Asami', someone responsible for 'instigation and conspiracy', over torching of a covered van at Chouddagram.

The case was filed by Chouddagram Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Nuruzzaman on Monday night, said OC Uttam Kumar Chakrabarty.

He said Khaleda and 31 other leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were accused in it.

Chakrabarty told bdnews24.com the covered van was torched in Haiderpool on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway on Sunday.

The BNP chief, leading a coalition in the movement demanding snap election under a nonpartisan administration, had called the nonstop blockade on Jan 5 after failing to lead anti-government protests.

So far, blockade-induced arson attacks have burned at least 20 people to death across Bangladesh, leaving many others burnt and injured.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, facing demands from MPs in Parliament, on Jan 21 had said that suing Khaleda for 'instigating such violence' was possible.

Jatrabarhi police on Saturday filed two cases accusing the BNP chief over an arson attack on a bus in the area on Jan 23 that left at least 27 people burnt.

The cases prompted the BNP to warn of ‘dire consequences’ if they were no withdrawn right away.

A pro-Awami League transport workers’ organisation has also issued the government a Jan 31 deadline to arrest Khaleda.

Clarifying their stance, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia, however, on Monday told reporters that they would 'take steps based on evidence after investigation no matter who the culprit is'.