Murder case against Khaleda: Court fixes Oct 13 for submission of report

A Dhaka court has deferred the date for submission of report about the authenticity of a case filed against Khaleda Zia and three others for instigating murders of 42 people during the 20-party alliance’s nationwide blockade and hartals earlier this year. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Maruf Hossain on Monday fixed October 13 for submission of report about the authenticity of the case filed in February by one AB Siddique, accusing Khaleda and three other BNP leaders of instigating the killing of the 42 people by enforcing the violent agitation programme across the country from January 5 to February 1. The other accused in the case are: BNP vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia, and BNP chairperson’s adviser and also former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Emajuddin Ahmed. On February 2, AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-ruling party organisation, filed the murder case against them on Feb 2. On the day, the metropolitan magistrate’s court took the complaint into cognisance ordering Gulshan Police Station to investigate the killings. Khaleda announced the indefinite transport blockade while addressing a group of media people and police in front of the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office on January 5 as the authorities did not permit the 20-party to organise a public rally that the opposition coalition had planned to hold in the city protestesting the first anniversary of the 10th Jatiya Sangsad election, boycotted by the BNP. At least 42 people lost their lives from January 5 to Feb 1 during the twin-agitation that often turned violent, according to a news agency.

- mbz