A Comilla court has denied bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a case charged for murdering eight people in connection with the bus arson attack in Comilla on Feb 3, 2015.
The verdict was declared after the two hearings of the murder case by the Comilla Senior Judicial Magistrate of Cognizance Court 5 Judge Biplob Debnath on Wednesday.
Khaleda Zia's lawyer Advocate Kaimul Haque Rinku confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune. Public Prosecutor Advocate Mostafizur Rahman Liton represented the state.
The hearing was supposed to be conducted on September 12, 20 and 30.
Also read- Comilla arson case: Khaleda files bail plea with High Court
Khaleda's lawyer Advocate Kaimul said: "The court has earlier set the dates for the hearing multiples times in the wake of the petition by state. We have provided all the documents today required by the court.”
"However, the court has rejected the bail plea of Khaleda Zia today [Wednesday] after two hearings. We did not get justice. We will appeal to the High Court in order to get bail."
According to the case details, eight people were killed and at least 20 others were injured when assailants hurled a petrol bomb at a bus in Jogmohanpur of Chauddagram during the 20-party alliance’s movement on February 3, 2015.
Chauddagram police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Nuruzzaman filed a case against 77 people over the incident.
Six senior BNP leaders, including Chairperson Khaleda Zia, were accused in the case. Among the accused, three died and five were discharged from the charge sheet.
Investigating Officer DB Inspector Firoz Hossain submitted the charge sheet against Khaleda Zia and 69 others to the Comilla Court.