Arrest warrants issued against 39 BNP leaders

A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against 39 BNP leaders and activists, including Supreme Court Bar Association president Zainul Abedin and its general secretary Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon, in a case filed with Paltan police station. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Kamrul Hossain Molla passed the order on Wednesday, after taking into cognizance the charge sheet in the case. The court also directed the officer-in-charge of Paltan police station to submit reports by August 28 on execution of arrest warrants in the case filed under the Explosive Substance Act. The other BNP leaders are Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, MK Anwar, Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Shawkat Mahmood, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Syeda Ashifa Ashrafi Papiya, Maruf Kamal Khan, Mir Sharafat Ali and Shirin Sultana. Of the accused, 12 BNP leaders, including Rizvi, MK Anwar, Sohel, Shawkat Mahmood, are on bail while Barkatullah Bulu and another party leader is in jail. The rest of the accused are showed fugitives in the case. Sub-Inspector Debi Kanto Bharman, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet against the 53 accused on April 27. According to the case, the accused hurled petrol bombs at a CNG autorickshaw in Paltan during the BNP-led countrywide blockade and hartal on February 3, 2015. Several people injured were injured in the incident. Later, SI Ziaul Haque filed a case with Paltan police station against the accused.