59 of BNP-led 20 parties face arrest

A Dhaka court yesterday issued arrest warrants against 59 leaders and activists of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, including Selima Rahman and Barkatullah Bulu, in a Motijheel arson attack case filed in January last year.

After accepting charges against 87 accused, Judge (in-charge) Ruhul Amin of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order showing the 59 fugitives.

BNP leaders Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel, Shirin Sultana, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Habibunnabi Khan Sohel, Sultan Salauddin Tuku and Azizul Bari Helal are also among the accused.

The court asked the law enforcers to submit a report before it on September 18 on execution of the arrest warrants.

A parked vehicle of Titash Paribahan was set on fire in the city's Motijheel area on January 25 last year. The case was filed against 76 people on the same day with Motijheel Police Station.

Police on March 31 this year pressed charges against 87 people. The investigation officer showed 59 as fugitives and appealed to the court to issue arrest warrants.

Twenty-eight other accused, including BNP leaders Amanullah Aman, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed and Shawkat Mahmud, are now on bail.