SCBA president, secretary get bail

The High Court yesterday granted anticipatory bail to Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Advocate Zainul Abedin and its Secretary Barrister KM Mahbubuddin Khokon in two vandalism cases.

The bail will remain in effect for six months or until police submit their investigation reports to the lower court, whichever is earlier, the HC said.

The orders came after hearing two bail petitions jointly filed by Zainul and Khokon, also vice-chairman and joint secretary general of BNP respectively.

Police filed the cases with Shahbagh Police Station on January 3 on charges of vandalising vehicles and obstructing police from discharging duties during an agitation by BNP leaders and activists centering BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's appearance before a court at Bakshi Bazar in the capital.

Deputy Attorney General Shaikh AKM Moniruzzaman Kabir told this correspondent that the government would move appeals before the Appellate Division of Supreme Court challenging the HC bail orders.