Arrest warrant against Khaleda

Revoking her bail, a court in the city on Wednesday issued a warrant for arrest of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and two other accused in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust Fund graft cases, reports UNB.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Special Judge's Court-3 passed the order, rejecting two time pleas moved by the counsel for the BNP chief.

The court passed the orders as the three accused did not appear before it because of security reason during ongoing hartal enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

The two other accused are former MP of BNP Kazi Salimul Huq and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed.

The security around BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office was slightly tightened on Wednesday afternoon following the issuance of the warrant.

The number of law enforcers, both in uniform and plainclothes ones, has been increased around Khaleda's office where she together with her party's leaders has been staying since January 3.

They are strongly monitoring the overall situation in the area.

A police officer deployed in the area wishing anonymity said they beefed up the security a little bit around Khaleda's office as the court issued the arrest warrant.

Meanwhile, the BNP chief was apprised of the court order, said her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan. "Madam was informed about the court order. Her lawyers were dealing with the issue and they'll give reaction to this end."

He said Khaleda Zia was not worried over the court order.

Some pro-BNP senior lawyers sat in a meeting at veteran lawyer TH Khan's Mohammadpur house in the evening to work out the next course of action in the wake of the issuance of the arrest warrant, Maruf Kamal said.