Arrest warrant against Khaleda in 2014 case

A Dhaka court yesterday issued an arrest warrant against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in a case filed over making derogatory remark on the ruling Awami League in 2014.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim passed the order, based on the probe report submitted by Shahbagh Police Station on June 30 last year, and directed Gulshan Police Station to execute the warrant and submit a report before it by February 18.

The case was filed on October 2014 by AB Siddique, president of pro-Awami League organisation Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad. He claimed that on October 14, 2014, Khaleda in a programme said “the ruling party's [AL] professed secularism was nothing but a sham,”, adding that her remarks hurt religious sentiments of Muslims.

After taking the charges into cognizance, a Dhaka court directed Shahbagh Police Station to investigate and submit a report.

Meanwhile, the BNP chief yesterday filed a petition with the High Court seeking bail in a 2015 murder case on charges of killing eight persons and injuring others by torching a bus in Cumilla's Chouddagram.

Citing the bail petition, Barrister Kayser Kamal said Khaleda was not involved in the incident. All other accused of the case except her have been granted bail in the case, he said, adding that a Cumilla court has adjourned the bail petition of Khaleda Zia in this case four times since November last year.