Bus Fire Cases: 178 BNP men get anticipatory bail

The High Court yesterday granted anticipatory bail to 178 BNP leaders and activists including Juba Dal vice presidents Abdul Baten Shamim and Rabiul Alam till February 7 in 13 cases filed for setting buses on fire in Dhaka on November 12 last year.

The HC also asked the accused to surrender before the lower court concerned on expiry of their anticipatory bail.

The HC bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan came up with the orders after hearing 36 petitions filed by the accused BNP leaders and activists.

Earlier in the day, the accused appeared before the HC bench for bail.

Lawyers Kayser Kamal and Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal appeared for the accused petitioners while Assistant Attorney General Mahfuzur Rahman Likhon represented the state.

Police filed 13 separate cases with different police stations in Dhaka on November 12 and 13 after several buses were torched in the capital on November 12.