Dhaka – The High Court on Suinday stayed the trial proceedings of two arson cases filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia over arson and vandalism in 2015.The HC bench also issued separate rules asking the government to explain in four weeks why the lower court order that accepted the charges against Khaleda in the cases should not be scrapped.
The HC bench of Justice Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Justice ANM Bashir Ullah passed the order and issued the rules after hearing two petitions filed by Khaleda challenging the legality of the lower court order that took cognizance of the charges against her.
The police filed the arson and vandalism cases against Khaleda and others with Darus Salam Police Station in Dhaka on January 29 and February 4 in 2015 during the anti-government agitation enforced by the BNP-led alliance, he said.
A Dhaka court in January this year took cognizance of the charges of the cases, the deputy attorney general added.
With the stay order of the two cases, the HC has stayed the trial proceedings of eights cases, which was filed over the arson and vandalism in 2015.
After the BNP was prevented from holding a rally on January 5 in 2015 to protest the anniversary of the 10th Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections, Khaleda Zia called a nationwide blockade.
In the course of the blockade that lasted 90 days, vehicles and buildings were fire-bombed, leading to almost 150 deaths.
The former prime minister has been named in several of those cases on charges of inciting violence.
On April 13, the HC stayed the trial proceedings of four cases while it had stayed the trial proceedings of two other cases on April 10.
Among the cases, five were filed by the Darus Salam Police Station in Dhaka while the other one by Jatrabari police in the capital.
However, Deputy Attorney General Shaikh AKM Moniruzzaman Kabir yesterday told reporters that the government would appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for staying the HC order. – Staff Reporter
