A court in Cumilla has acquitted BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami from three separate criminal cases filed in 2015.
Kaimul Haque Ringku, Public Prosecutor (PP) of Cumilla District and Sessions Judge Court, told this to the media on Monday. The accused of the cases were relieved from charges considering those cases as political, the PP said.
He said those cases were filed with Chauddagram police station in connection with death of eight passengers of bus in in a petrol bomb attack in Jagmohanpur area of the upazila on February 3 in 2015 and setting fire on a covered van in the same year.
Chauddagram thana police filed two separate cases in this connection with the murder and explosion and later submitted charge sheet against 78 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat including Begum Khaleda Zia.
Judge of Additional District and Sessions Court-2 of Cumilla Shafiqul Islam acquitted Begum Khaleda Zia as her involvement in the case was not proved during the trial.
Meanwhile, another case was filed with the same police station on January 25 in 2015 for setting fire to a covered van in Haidarpur area of the upazila where 32 people including Begum Khaleda Zia were named as accused.
Police later submitted charge sheet against 42 including Khaleda Zia in connection with the case.
Judge of the Additional District and Sessions Court-1 of Cumilla Afroza Sheuly discharged Khaleda Zia as her involvement in the case was not proved during the trial.