The High Court has granted six-week anticipatory bail to 14 BNP leaders and activists in cases filed over the clashes between Dhaka College students and New Market traders-workers.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mostafa Zaman and Justice Md Selim passed the order on Tuesday.
Amir Hossain Alamgir, Mizan, Hasan Jahangir Mithu, Harun Hawlader, Shah Alam Santu, Shahidul Islam Shahid, Japanese Faruk, Mizan Bepari, Asif, Rahmat, Billal, Monir, Julhas and Babul got the bail.
Barrister Kaiser Kamal stood for the BNP activists for the bail application in court.
On April 20, police filed two lawsuits in connection with the clashes. One was filed under the Explosives Act and the other for sabotage, provocation and assault on police.
A total of 1,200 people, including traders, shop workers and students of Dhaka College, were accused in the cases.
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Meanwhile, another case was started over the vandalization of an ambulance during the clashes. The owner of the ambulance, Md Sujan, filed the case with the New Market police station late on Saturday.
Some 150-200 unidentified people have been accused in the case.
On April 22, police arrested BNP leader Moqbul Hossain in connection with the clashes and placed on police remand.
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His name was first mentioned by the Dhaka College students during a press conference as an instigator.
A member of the BNP’s Dhaka south unit, Moqbul is the former president of BNP’s New Market thana unit. He owns the two fast food shops – Welcome and Capital – from where the clash ensued on April 18.
After the Chhatra League activists were assaulted, they went back to Dhaka College for reinforcements and attacked New Market around midnight.
Also Read - Case started over vandalizing ambulance amid New Market clashes
The next morning, the students took to the streets protesting the assault and engaged in violent clashes with the traders-workers.
Nahid, a delivery man for an Elephant Road computer accessories store, sustained severe injuries in the violence. He died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital the same night.
Another store worker named Mursalin was wounded on the head by a thrown brickbat. He later died in a hospital.
The families of the dead filed two murder cases.
