Warrants for arrest of 67 BNP leaders, workers

A Dhaka court yesterday issued arrest warrants for 67 leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance, including BNP leaders Salima Rahman and Barkatullah Bulu, in an arson attack case.

Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order after accepting charges pressed against 93 accused, including BNP Vice-chairman Salima and the other 66 people.

Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah also directed the officer-in-charge of Motijheel Police Station to submit a report on the execution of the order on October 10.

Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, personal assistant to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and Shirin Sultana are also facing arrest warrants in the case.

Court sources said a total of 31 arrest warrants were issued for Shimul Biswas on different dates in different arson attack cases filed with different police stations in the capital.

Twenty-six BNP leaders, including MK Anwar, Shawkat Mahmud, Aman Ullah Aman -- who are accused in the arson attack case -- are on bail.

According to the prosecution, a group of leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance carried out an arson attack on Bagdad Express in Motijheel area on February 1 last year during the combine's anti-government agitation.

Later, a case was filed with Motijheel Police Station against 93 people for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Police on March 31 the same year pressed charges against MK Anwar, Salima Rahman and the other 91 people.