20 BNP activists detained in Dhaka

At least 20 activists of the BNP and its affiliate organisations have been detained after they fought pitched battles with police at Ramna. Police say the activists gathered there as BNP chief Khaleda Zia was scheduled to appear before court on Thursday. The BNP activists also vandalised vehicles, Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Deputy Commissioner Ehsanul Ferdous said. However, several BNP and Chhatra Dal activists wrote on Facebook that they had gathered there to greet the party chief and did not clash with police. The Dhaka Tribune was not able to independently verify their claim. Khaleda Zia was scheduled to appear in court in two corruption cases but she skipped the hearing citing health reasons. The next hearing in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage corruption cases has been deferred to February 16.