17 BNP men get bail

The High Court (HC) yesterday granted bail to 17 leaders and activists of Tangail district unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in connection with a case filed under Anti Terrorism Act.

The accused include Shamsul Alam Tofa, president of the district unit BNP, and its general secretary Farhad Iqbal.

An HC bench comprising Justice Mohammad Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Justice ANM Bashir Ullah granted them anticipatory bail till submissions of police reports against them.

On July 23, a clash took place between two factions of local BNP during a programme in the town organised by the district unit of BNP.

At least 10 people, including two policemen, were injured in the incident.

Police later detained eight BNP activists from the spot and recovered 12 machetes from their possession.

The following day, Sub-Inspector Al Mamun of Sadar Model Police Station filed a case against 26 people, including the eight detainees. The arrestees were later produced before a court that sent them to jail.