BNP slates charge sheets against Khaleda Zia

The BNP has condemned charge sheets in the Jatrabarhi firebombing cases against the party chief Khaleda Zia and 37 party leaders and activists, reports bdnews24.com.

The party said in a statement on Wednesday night that the pressing of charges in court with politically ill motive surprised it.

The statement also said the charge sheets were 'one-sided'.

Detective Branch submitted the charge sheets in two cases over the firebombing of a bus at Jatrabarhi on January 23.

The BNP chairperson is accused in several cases over instigating violence during a blockade she called on January 5.

It lasted three months and saw over 150 deaths, hundreds injured and thousands of vehicles damaged.

The Jatrabarhi cases were the first to see investigation completed.

The BNP statement claimed no leader or activist of the party was involved in violence during the protests.

It said it had demanded a United Nations-led impartial investigation into all killings, abductions and violence.

"But the government did not walk that path. It rather ran propaganda against the opposition," it added.

At least 30 people were burnt when the bus was firebombed at Jatrabarhi's Katherpool on January 23.