Bangladesh court orders arrest of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia

30 March, Dhaka

A Dhaka court in Bangladesh Wednesday issued arrest warrant against BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 37 others in a case for instigating fire-bombing of a passenger bus in January last year.

One person was killed and 30 others burnt in the incident. The court passed the order after taking cognisance of the case’s charge sheet filed under Bangladesh Penal Code Act and Explosives Act. The court ordered the police to update it on the arrests on April 27 when the next hearing has been fixed.

The case pertains to the fire-bombing of the bus at Jatrabari in the capital amidst 3-month long back-to-back hartals and transport blockades enforced by the BNP-led 20 party anti-government agitation from Jan to March 2015.

Police said that during the investigation, 4 of the arrestees had confessed that they were hired by the BNP leaders to firebomb the passenger bus.

The BNP-led anti government agitation last year left over 150 dead and hundreds others injured and burnt. The court will now hear the state’s arguments first to frame charges against the accused.

The trial will begin after the court indicts them. Khaleda Zia is already facing charges under 2 corruption cases.