The High Court yesterday granted anticipatory bail to BNP leaders MK Anwar, Tariqul Islam, Abdul Awal Mintoo and Amanullah Aman in 56 arson and vandalism cases.
The bench of Justice Syed Md Ziaul Karim and Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain granted bail to the BNP leaders for four weeks after they filed separate bail petitions.
“Anwar secured bail in nine cases, Tariqul in four cases, BNP Chairperson’s adviser Mintoo in one case and Aman in 42 cases,” said one of their lawyers AKM Ehsanur Rahman.
He said the cases were filed on charges of vandalism and arson attacks carried out during BNP’s countrywide blockade and general strikes early this year.
The cases Aman was accused in were filed with police stations in Paltan, Shahbagh and Motijheel. Of the nine cases Anwar got bail in, five were lodged with Paltan police station, one with Jatrabari police station and Khilgaon police station each, and the two others with Chauddagram police station in Comilla.
Tariqul’s four cases were filed with Jessore police station and Mintoo’s one case with Paltan police station.
Khandker Mahbub Hossain, Joynul Abedin, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Sagir Hossain Leon, AKM Ehsanur Rahman and Sazzad Hayder stood for the defence while Deputy Attorney General Forhad Ahmed represented the government.
