Court orders Khaleda’s arrest over deadly bus firebombing in Dhaka

A judge has issued arrest warrants for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 27 others in a criminal case over the fatal firebombing of a bus in Dhaka.

The Court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge on Wednesday accepted police’s chargesheet in the case – initiated under the Special Powers Act – with regard to the incident and ordered the arrests.
 
The judge also told police to update the court on the arrests on Apr 27.
 
In January last year, BNP chief Khaleda Zia, after a failed anti-government rally, called a nonstop countrywide transport blockade which continued for three months.
 
The blockade was marred by widespread violence including arson attacks, fire-bombings, crude bomb blasts and clashes that all together paralysed Bangladesh.
 
On Jan 23, at least 30 people were  burnt when a bus was attacked at Jatrabarhi’s Katherpool.
 
One of the passengers, a contractor going by the name of Nur Alam, succumbed to his burn injuries several days later at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
 
Alam, who was heading home to Narayanganj, suffered 48 percent burns.
 
The Jatrabarhi police started two cases over the incident – one for the murder and the other under the Special Powers Act, which states the BNP chief as the ‘instigator’ of the attack.
 
Police brought charges at court in May last year against 38 persons, including the former prime minister.
 
In January this year, the case under the Special Powers Act was transferred to the Court of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge.
 
The BNP says the cases against its chief over the fire-bombing are ‘politically motivated’.
 
The three-time prime minister is also facing trial in five graft cases filed by the Anti Corruption Commission. They are known as the Gatco, Niko, Barhapukuria Coal Mine, Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases.