Five BNP senior leaders get bail

The High Court (HC) Tuesday granted ad-interim bail to five detained senior leaders of BNP, including its standing committee members Barrister Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, in two cases of vandalism, arson and attack on police.

The two others are BNP chairperson's adviser and former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo and Khaleda Zia's special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas.

Justice Nizamul Haq Nasim and Justice Mohammad Jahangir Hossain passed the orders upon separate bail petitions.

Barrister Rafique-ul-Haque, AJ Mohammad Ali and Joynul Abedin stood for the accused, assisted by Barrister Ehsanur Rahman and Sagar Hossain Leon.

When contacted, Barrister Ehsanur Rahman said the bail period was not stated by the court in its short order.

He said Abdul Awal Mintoo could be released as there was no further case against him.

Barrister Ehsan said he was unaware of the release of four other BNP leaders as several cases were filed against them.

On the night of November 8 last year, plainclothes police arrested Barrister Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah from the city's Karwanbazar area as they came out of Sonargaon Hotel.

On the following day, Abdul Awal Mintoo and Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas were also arrested from in front of BNP chairperson's Gulshan residence.

The five BNP leaders were shown arrested in the two cases filed with Motijheel Police Station on November 5 and September 24 for vandalism, arson and attacking policemen.