A Dhaka court yesterday again fixed May 2 as the day to submit a probe report in a case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and three others. They are charged with killing 42 people in violence committed during the hartal-blockade of the BNP-led 20-party alliance in January 2015.
Metropolitan magistrate Asaduzzman Nur fixed the fresh date for submitting the report since the OC of Gulshan police station yesterday failed to submit it before the court on the scheduled day.
The other accused are BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, Khaleda’s adviser Prof Emajuddin Ahmed and her ex-advisor Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury.
On February 2 last year, AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, filed the case with the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court against the four people.
After recording the complainant’s statement, the court directed the officer-in-charge (OC) of Gulshan PS to investigate the case and submit a probe report before the court.
“Khaleda Zia masterminded the killings while the remaining three instigated the pogrom,” Siddique said in his case statement.
He added that the BNP-led coalition activists blasted petrol bombs during the frequent hartals and blockade, leaving 42 people dead, and hundreds of others wounded from January 5 to February 1 that year. The case was filed under sections 302, 109 and 120 (B) of the Penal Code.
