A Dhaka court has discharged 77 leaders of BNP, including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and two Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas and Gayeshwar Chandra Ray, from a case filed with Shahbagh Thana under Special Powers Act (SPA).
On Monday 15th September, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Sabbir Foyez accepted the police’s final report and granted acquittal to the accused.
The other prominent BNP leaders who were acquitted from the charges are BNP vice chairman Abdullah Al Noman and Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Saiful Islam Nirob and Sultan Salah Uddin Tuku.
Confirming the matter, Fakhrul’s lawyer Syed Zainal Abedin Mezbah said the case was politically motivated.
“Police investigations found no evidence, leading to a recommendation for their discharge. The court accepted the report and relieved them from the charges,” he added.
According to the case statement, on 12th December, 2019, a High Court hearing was scheduled on the bail petition of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
A day earlier, on 11 December, miscreants allegedly set fire to motorcycles and other vehicles in front of the under-construction main gate of the Bar Council under Shahbagh Police Station in the capital, causing damage. Sub-Inspector Shamsur Rahman of Shahbagh Police Station later filed the case, accusing the defendants of arson aimed at influencing the bail verdict and exerting pressure on the judiciary.
