Selima sent to jail, 2 other BNP leaders remanded

A Dhaka court today placed BNP leaders Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Fazlul Haque Milon on a two-day remand each in connection with an "attempted murder" case.

The court also sent party Vice-chairperson Selima Rahman to jail after rejecting her remand and bail petitions.

The BNP leaders were shown arrested today in a case filed for "attempted murder" of the deputy commissioner of Ramna division.

The court directed police to quiz Selima Rahman at the jail gate within five days and also asked the law enforcers to remain cautious while interrogating Khandaker Mahbub and Milon in remand.

Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Haque passed the order in presence of the accused acting on the prayer of Shakur Das Malo, an SI of Ramna Police Station and also investigation officer of the case.

Police picked up the three BNP leaders -- Selima, Organising Secretary Fazlul Haque Milon and Opposition chief Khaleda Zia's adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain-- from the capital yesterday.

Shah Muhahijul Islam, a sub-inspector of Ramna Police Station, filed the case on January 5, a day after miscreants hurled several crude bombs at the New Circular Road office of DC Maruf Hossain.

According to the complaint, the activists of BNP-led 18-party alliance hurled at least 10 crude bombs at the office of Ramna DC around 9:35pm Saturday, a day before the 10th parliamentary election.

In the case, Muhahijul claimed that the opposition men blasted the bombs in a bid to kill the DC and foil the January 5 general election.

Selima, sister of Rashed Khan Menon, a top leader in the ruling alliance, was picked up from her Gulshan house while Mahbub, also former president of the Supreme Bar Association (SCBA),  from in front of Jatiya Press Club.

Milon was detained while holding a meeting at the opposition chief whip's business office in Baridhara.

Meanwhile, sedition charge is being brought against Khandaker Mahbub "for instigating a civil war in the country", said an online post of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Khandaker Mahbub "threatened police and gave statement that can provoke a civil war in the country" while addressing a programme on December 2.