Khaleda's Gulshan office

Warrant issued for Khaleda’s office search in explosives case

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka on Sunday evening ordered police to search the Gulshan office of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
Metropolitan Magistrate SM Masud Zaman of the CMM Court issued the order in a case filed with Gulshan Police Station in the capital under the Explosive Substances Act. The number of the case is 25(2)(15) and the other thirteen accused persons of the case are: BNP Vice-Chairmen Selima Rahman and Hafizuddin Ahmed, Joint-Secretary General Salah Uddin Ahmed, BNP Chairperson’s Special Assistant Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, BNP Chief’s Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan, Supreme Court Bar Association President Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Mohila Dal Secretary General Shirin Sultana, Humayun Kabir, MA Qaiyun, Dewan Salauddin, Mostafa, Mamun and Manik.Metropolitan Magistrate SM Masud came up with the search warrant following a petition moved by Feroz Kobir, the investigation officer of the case.
In the petition, police said that a lot of people used to enter into the Khaleda Zia’s Ghulsan office. A group of conspirators, who were planning to destroy the country, might be hiding at the Khaleda’s office, the petition said.
Warrant issued for Khaleda’s office searchMany intelligent agencies sources informed that explosive materials might be kept at her office considering that the office is a safe place. Some saboteurs might be stayed at her office in order to destroy the country. Hence, her office should be searched for fair investigation, the police said.
Latter, the court issued the search warrant.
On February 25, Ghulsan police filed the case against 14 people including Khaleda Zia , under the explosives act for bombing of Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan’s procession in Gulshan on February 16.
Khaleda has been staying in her office for nearly two months since she was prevented from coming out and called for continuous countrywide blockades from Jan 5.
After issuing of the search warrant, advocate Sanaullah Miah, one of the counsels for the BNP chief, said that an executive magistrate usually issues such order. “The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court has no authority to issue the search warrant,” he said.
At a press briefing yesterday afternoon, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Khandker Mahbub Hossain demanded assurance about the presence of lawyers during the search of BNP Chief’s office by the police and they should also be kept there to witness the searching of the police themselves.
Khandaker Mahbub, who is also a lawyer of Begum Khaleda Zia categorically said, “As per the Criminal Procedure Code, before conducting a search in any place, the bodies of the concerned police personnel shall have to be searched by impartial men’. – Court Correspondent and Staff Reporter