Tarique Rahman accused of Jan 21 Gazipur bus arson

Police have accused BNP Senior Vice Chairperson Tarique Rahman and 31 others over the Jan 21 arson of a bus in Gazipur’s Joydebpur.

In the chargesheet submitted on Tuesday, Tarique, his personal assistant Lutfor Rahman Badal and son of ousted Gazipur mayor MA Mannan, Manjurul Ahsan Rony have been blamed of masterminding the attack.

The case’s investigation officer, Joydebpur police SI Enamul Haque, submitted the chargesheet and Gazipur Superintendent of Police Mohammad Harun Ur Rashid later briefed journalists about the case.

He said BNP activists doused a bus with kerosene and petrol and set it alight at Tarique Zia Intersection in Khashpara area of Gazipur’s Manipur on Jan 21 causing losses amounting to Tk 800,000.

Joydebpur police SI Dilip Chandra Sarkar filed a case accusing 50 people over the incident.

The first investigation officer of the case, Rafiqul Islam, made a number of arrests. The case was then handed to Enamul Haque.

In the chargesheet, Haque claimed that Tarique conspired  with Badal and Rony in his London flat and planned violence around the country before and after the Jan 2014 national polls.

It says the three asked BNP activists to unleash a violent campaign of vandalism, firebombing of vehicles and killing of passengers, on the major roads in the country’s key economic district.

The chargesheet also claimed Tarique promised activists monetary rewards for the violent actions.

Rashid said they have arrested 11 over the case. “Initially, the investigation officer accused 32 under the special act of 1974.”

The 20-party opposition coalition organised strikes and blockade for three months in early 2015.

More than 150 people died, mostly of severe burns suffered in firebombings.

Tarique’s mother BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been implicated in a number of cases for ordering these attacks.

Tarique has been living in the UK for the last seven years. He is wanted in a number of cases in Bangladesh and is absconding.

The court has banned coverage of his political activities there and the media is barred from reporting his speeches and statements.