The High Court has granted anticipatory bail to 120 Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) men in separate cases over the arson attacks on buses in Dhaka.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan granted the bails on Wednesday after hearing separate petitions on related cases.
Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, who stood for the petitions, told Dhaka Tribune that the High Court granted anticipatory bail to the BNP men till January 5, and that they have to surrender to the lower court after that period.
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Earlier in the day, among others, BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, BNP's mayor candidate for the last Dhaka South City Corporation election Ishraq Hossain, BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-18 constituency by-polls SM Jahangir Hossain, and BNP’s student wing Chhatra Dal President Fazlur Rahman Khokon came to the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
On November 12, as many as nine buses, including two vehicles used for carrying government staff, were set on fire in the four hours between 12.30pm and 4.30pm.
According to police, at least nine cases have been filed accusing more than 400 people over the arson attacks on Thursday.
In all the cases filed by police between Thursday night and Friday, most of the accused leaders and activists belong to BNP and its affiliated bodies.
On November 13, a Dhaka court granted remand for 28 people in separate cases filed with Shahbagh, Paltan, Motijheel, Bangshal, Kalabagan, Sutrapur, Khilkhet, and Turag police stations over the arson attacks.
