A Dhaka court on Monday issued arrest warrants against BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed and Organizing Secretary Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu in a Special Powers Act case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge KM Emrul Keyesh issued the arrest warrants after accepting the charges levelled against 18 BNP leaders and activists in the case.
Confirming the matter to BSS, Additional Public Prosecutor Tapos Kumar Paul said Monday was fixed for passing the order on taking the formal charge into cognizance and the two accused were scheduled to appear before the court.
Tapos said: "The court issued an arrest warrant against them as the two accused failed to appear for their hearing on Monday."
The court also directed the officer-in-charge (OC) of Shahbagh police station to submit reports on the execution of arrest warrants in the case by December 12.
BNP leaders Khairul Kabir Khokon, Sultan Salauddin Tuku, Fazlul Haque Milon, Sarafat Ali Safu and seven others are out on bail in the case, while Ishaq Ali Sarkar is in jail custody.
According to the case statement, on February 2, 2015, a vehicle was set on fire in front of Appayan Community Centre in Mirpur’s Pallabi area of the capital, during the BNP-led 20-party alliance enforced non-stop blockade program.
BNP leaders and activists led by Rizvi brought out a procession in front of the National Press Club on March 8, 2018, demanding the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the statement added.
Later, police filed a case against 18 and several other unknown people on the same day with Shahbagh police station.
After an investigation, detectives submitted a charge sheet against the accused before the court.