Killing of 42 people: Probe report sought against Khaleda

A Dhaka court today asked the police to submit a probe report before it by June 18 against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and three others in a case filed on charges of killing 42 people across the country during the nonstop blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Maruf Hossain fixed the fresh date as Gulshan police failed to submit the report before it today as per the count’s earlier order.

Earlier on February 2, a Dhaka court asked Gulshan police to investigate the charges levelled against Khaleda and three BNP leader BNP leaders Rafiqul Islam Mia and Shamser Mobin Chowdhury and pro-BNP intellectual Prof Emajuddin Ahmed and asked police to submit the probe report in a month.

 AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

In the complaint, Siddique claimed: “Khaleda Zia masterminded the incidents of killing while the rest of the accused instigated the incidents.”

Siddique said the BNP-led 20-party men threw petrol bombs at transports and blasted crude bombs during the non-stop movement, leaving 42 people dead and hundreds injured.

Earlier, Khaleda was accused in three more cases filed by police -- two with Jatrabari Police Station and the other with Chauddagram Police Station in Comilla -- of masterminding the arson attacks on public transport during the countrywide blockade.  

All the three cases are now under police investigation.