Jatrabari arson: Khaleda seeks bail on surrender

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has surrendered before a Dhaka court in connection with a case filed for an arson attack on a passenger bus in the capital's Jatrabari in January last year.

She surrendered before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court around 10:45am on Tuesday and sought bail in the case.

A vehicle carrying her arrived on the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-3 premises around 10:30am today.

Hundreds of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies welcomed her at the court premises while she is accompanied by Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Khaleda’s personal assistant, and several other women leaders.

Around 9:20am, Khaleda started from her Gulshan residence to appear before the court, Sayrul Kabir Khan, media wing member of Khaleda, told media.

Earlier on March 30, a Dhaka court issued warrants for the arrest of Khaleda and 27 BNP-Jamaat men in the case over the arson attack at Jatrabari in the city during the BNP-led 20-party’s blockade.


Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Mohammad Quamrul Hossain Molla passed the order after accepting the chargesheet against 38 people submitted by Jahidul Islam, sub-inspector of the Jatrabari Police Station.

The order came after the investigation officer showed Khaleda and 27 others fugitives, and appealed to the court to issue warrants for their arrests.

On January 23 last year, at least 31 people suffered burn injuries after miscreants hurled two petrol bombs at a bus in Jatrabari intersection. One of the injured later died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Sub-inspector of Jatrabari Police Station KM Nuruzzaman filed two cases -- one for killing and another for hurling petrol bombs -- under the Special Powers Act on January 24, making Khaleda the mastermind of the attack.