Khaleda summoned in sedition case

A Dhaka court has asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on March 3 in a sedition case filed for her controversial remarks on the count of 1971 freedom fighters.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Rashed Talukdar passed the order on Monday after a hearing in this regard.

Advocate Sahara Khatun, the lawyer of the plaintiff and former home minister, told Samakal that Khaleda Zia has been ordered to appear before the court on March 3 and directed to explain her stance over the remarks.  

Earlier in the day, Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi, a pro-Awami League Supreme Court lawyer, filed the case with the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court.

The case was filed after getting approval from the Home Ministry. On Sunday, the Home Ministry gave approval to file the case.

According to the case statement, Khaleda tried to distort the history of Bangladesh's origin with her statement on the count of 1971 freedom fighters.

On December 21 last year, Khaleda expressed doubt about the number of people who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War in 1971, claiming the figure is disputed.