3 motorbikes torched in High Court area

Unidentified miscreants torched three motorcycles near the High Court in Dhaka yesterday afternoon.

The motorbikes were set on fire around 4:40pm at High Court Mazar area, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters Jibon Miah told The Daily Star.

On information, three firefighting units rushed to the spot and doused the blaze, the firefighting department official said.

Assistant Commissioner SM Shamim of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna zone) said they are investigating the incidents and filing of a case is underway.

“We are yet to learn who owned the motorcycles,” he said.

The incidents took place amid law enforcers’ strict security measures taken in and around Supreme Court area ahead of BNP leader Khaleda Zia’s bail hearing today.

Police sources said security has been beefed up, and they will strengthen their vigilance today centring the hearing.

On November 14, Khaleda Zia filed the appeal with the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court order that rejected her bail petition in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

Pro-BNP lawyers on December 5 created chaos at the SC during the hearing of Khaleda’s bail appeal -- forcing the chief justice and five other judges to leave the courtroom.  

On that day, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam prayed to the court to adjourn the hearing till December 12. He told the court that BSMMU authorities were yet to prepare the medical reports on Khaleda’s condition, and they needed one more week to carry out various tests.

On October 29 last year, Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-5 convicted Khaleda in the case and sentenced her to seven years’ imprisonment in her absence. The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 2011.

The BNP chief landed in jail on February 8 last year after the same court awarded her five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

The HC on October 30 enhanced her jail term to 10 years in the case, dismissing her appeal.