The High Court yesterday granted anticipatory bail to BNP leaders MK Anwar, Tariqul Islam, Abdul Awal Mintoo and Amanullah Aman in 56 arson and vandalism cases.

BNP's standing committee members Anwar and Tariqul got bail in nine and four cases respectively while party chief Khaleda Zia's adviser Mintoo obtained bail in one case and BNP's Joint Secretary General Aman in 42 cases, their lawyer AKM Ehsanur Rahman told The Daily Star.

The HC granted the bail for four weeks after the BNP leaders appeared before it with separate bail petitions.

The HC granted them bail on the ground that there was no specific allegation against them of vandalism and arson attacks,Ehsan said.

All the cases were filed in and around Dhaka during the blockade and hartals enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance this year.

Meanwhile, the Appellate Division yesterday upheld the HC orders that granted ad-interim bail to BNP leaders Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy in similar five cases following petitions filed by the government against the HC orders.

The apex court passed "no order" on the government petitions, meaning that their bails will remain in force.