Gas price hike proposed,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

State-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) has sent a proposal to the country's energy watchdog, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), to increase gas prices, except at the domestic consumer level.

The regulator has been proposed to increase the price of the gas supplied in the CNG refilling stations by 39 percent and 32 percent for the industries, five percent for the power plants and nine percent hike for the fertiliser factories.

The proposal urged BERC to make the new rates effective from July 1.

BERC Chairman Syed Yusuf Hossain told  on Thursday that Petrobangla had placed a proposal to raise gas prices at all consumer levels, except for domestic consumers.

"The prices will be refixed after holding an open meeting and a mass hearing," he added.

The Petrobangla proposal said that the volume of gas wastage was increasing due to its low price, and thus, the government was being deprived of huge revenue collection.

"The amount of fund allocated for execution of various projects under the annual development programme (ADP) has been declining gradually for several reasons. So, it needs to increase gas prices to boost gas production and implement those projects," the proposal explained.

Petrobangla also said that the cost of purchasing gas from international companies working in the country was on the rise as they had increased their production, as the government was committed to buying a certain percentage of the gas produced by them. Moreover, the gas prices needed to be increased to form a fund for gas exploration, the state-owned oil company said.

According to the proposal, per 1,000 cubic metre natural gas tariff for power plants should be raised to Tk 84 from Tk 79.82 (5.24 percent rise), for fertiliser factories to Tk 80 from Tk 72.92 (9.71 percent rise), for industrial users to Tk 220 from Tk 165.91 (32.60 percent rise) and for privately-owned smaller power plants Tk 240 from Tk 118.26 (102.94 percent rise).

For commercial consumers, prices will be hiked to Tk 350 from Tk 268.09 (30.55 percent rise), for tea gardens Tk 200 from Tk 165.91 (20.55 percent rise) and for CNG gas refilling stations price will be up to Tk 905.92 from Tk 651.29 (39.10 percent rise).

The last time the government increased gas prices at various consumer levels in Nov 2008.

Domestic gas users are currently charged Tk 450 per month for double burners and Tk 400 for single burner.

'Only Govt will send workers to Malaysia',Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday brushed aside a call by private manpower exporters to be allowed to send workers to Malaysia alongside the government.

The minister had a meeting with a delegation of the newly-elected committee of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), led by President Shahjalal Majumder and General Secretary Ali Haider Chowdhury.

The Minister later told journalists that the government will send workers for now to address irregularities in manpower export and cut the immigration costs.

However, the private sector could be allowed later on through an agreed mechanism once the trust between two nations was restored, he added.

BAIRA General Secretary Chowdhury told journalists that the Minister had agreed on some of their proposals and advised them to work with the government.

"We also talked about lowering costs for immigration to a number of countries including Malaysia. The Minister asked BAIRA to submit a proposal to the ministry about the possible costs."

"We will be forming a committee today and will submit our proposal by Monday," President Majumder said.

Minister Mosharraf added that a Malaysian delegation would be coming to Bangladesh on June 5 and a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed soon based on their report.

He continued that there were around 0.27 million listed 'illegal' Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia and the procedure to legalise them had started. 

We warned you, Suranjit tells BNP,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

 Senior Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta has snapped back at the opposition for criticising cases lodged against its leaders under the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act.

"We had opposed the law when it was being passed. We had warned that the law might backfire on you [BNP]," the Awami League presidium member remarked on Thursday.

Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 34 other BNP top ranks are currently in jail charged for bombing on the Secretariat premises and arson during opposition's recent strikes. All their bail pleas have been turned down.

"It was they who removed the provision of bail after chargesheet submission," Suranjit said, adding, "Mr. Moudud knows better than me."

Moudud Ahmed, who has condemned not bailing the opposition leaders, was the law minister in the BNP-led government when the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act was passed.

Former Railway Minister Suranjit Sengupta, after lying low for a short duration following his personal secretary's alleged involvement in a cash scandal, regained his vocal mannerism after a Rail Division probe found nothing against him.

On the caretaker government issue, he urged the opposition to propose an alternative plan.

"Come to parliament and propose an alternative. I promise that it will not be sent to vote [immediately]. We will discuss it first," Suranjit, who headed the committee on the 15th Amendment of the Constitution, said.

"If BNP has an alternative proposal, Awami League will agree even to further amendments. But no more of that caretaker theory in this country," he added.

The senior parliamentarian says there is no fear of another 1/11 happening in the country, though the main political parties appear to be heading for a collision course.

"The world isn't like that anymore. Democracy prevails everywhere – that is my message to those who are divining another 1/11. Next time there will be nothing but a peaceful transition of power," he replied to questions.

However, Rashed Khan Menon, MP and president of ruling ally Workers' Party, warned that the 'players of 1/11' are once again active. "Statement after statement, talk show after talk show, they are trying to push democracy towards crisis," he said.

"Dialogue is not a new theory in a democratic state," Suranjit said, possibly alluding to the US Secretary of State's Hillary Clinton's call. "But there can be no dialogue beyond the Constitution."

"There can be no negotiation if they ask that all their demands be met first," he added.

Parties to decide who to oversee polls: CEC,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed on Thursday said the political parties would decide under whom the next general election would be held.

“The Election Commission is a constitutional body… it’ll follow the existing laws during the election,” the CEC told reporters at a workshop at the divisional election officers’ office here.

His remarks came amid the political impasse between the ruling alliance and the opposition over the caretaker government issue.

“There’s no alternative to election for the continuation of democracy in the country,” the CEC said expecting that the political parties will reach an understanding soon in this regard.

Free MPs before budget session: Farroque,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque urged the government on Thursday to withdraw all the 'false cases' against BNP leaders and activists including five lawmakers over hartal violence and release them before the start of next parliament session on May 27.

The BNP leader made the appeal while addressing a human chain on the premises of the parliament at about 10:30am.

At least 18 opposition lawmakers took part in the human chain formed demanding release of the leaders and activists of BNP-led 18-party alliance arrested during the recent hartals.

The chief whip said the speaker was not acting impartially as he did not inquire about five BNP lawmakers, who are in jail in connection with the cases filed for hartal violence.

BSF shot Bangladeshi dead

BANGLADESH NEWS

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead a Bangladeshi along Boiragi Para border in Phulbari upazila early Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Naser Ali, 40, son of Bodai Mia of Choto Moichanda village in same upazila.

BGB sources said several Bangladeshis tried to enter into India through Boiragi Para border when BSF jawans of Darajpur camp fired shots at them, leaving Naser dead on the spot at about 4:30am.

Other Bangladeshis escaped unhurt.

Later, the BSF members took away the body to their land.

Pro-BNP lawyers get bail for 10 days,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Twenty-two of the 29 pro-BNP lawyers accused of vandalising Dhaka CMM Court secured anticipatory bail for 10 days from the High Court on Thursday.

The solicitors have been directed to surrender before trial court on expiry of the bail.

A division bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain came up with the order nearly three hours after the defendants filed two bail petitions.

The lawyers – including Dhaka Bar Association President Borhanuddin and its former president Sanaullah Mia - were present at the hearing.

The vandalism took place when members of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum boycotted all the judges' and magistrates' courts in the capital on May 22 protesting a court order sending BNP lawmaker Mahbub Uddin Khokon to jail in an arson case.

Police on Tuesday filed a case with Kotwali Police Station against 29 pro-BNP lawyers and 70 other 

unnamed people on charges of vandalism and creating anarchy on the premises of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court.

In the case statement, the complainant said the lawyers brought a procession on the court premises at 

10:30am on May 22, and chanted slogans demanding unconditional release of BNP leaders including its acting secretary general.

The demonstrators came to the District Judge's Court on the second floor of the court building and broke a window pane, creating panic among lawyers, litigants and other people there.

Later, they went to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court on the first floor of the building and broke a window pane.

On May 21, a Dhaka court accepted charges against BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 44 other opposition leaders and activists in a case filed for torching a vehicle near the Prime 

Minister's Office on April 29 during hartal hours. Mahbub Uddin Khokon is among the accused in the case.

On May 17, Khokan was arrested in front of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan during hartal.

Khokan, Narsingdi district BNP president, was shown arrested in the arson case filed with Paltan Police Station and was sent to jail on Monday.

Sahara India to build townships,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Indian business conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh government on Wednesday to invest in modern but low-cost township schemes.

Chairman Subrata Roy Sahara and Joint Secretary (Development) of Housing and Public Works Syed Matlubur Rahman and RAJUK Chairman Nurul Huda signed the MoU.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan was present during the signing of MoU at his ministry.

According to the MoU, the government is searching for a company to build some townships around Dhaka and Sahara is capable of doing the job.

Both the parties will also cooperate in other projects including affordable housing for low-income group and integrated township.

Sahara India is going to set up an office in Dhaka and will prepare and submit proposals to the government to finalise a deal.

"I have an emotional attachment with this country. From my childhood, I heard so much about Bikrampur (a place near Dhaka) from my mother that I feel I came to my own land, to my own soil," said Chairman Sahara.

His family migrated to India after the partition in 1947 and this is his first visit to Bangladesh.

Roy along with his wife Swapna Roy and around 20 officials arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday on three-day visit.

Investment

Sahara said the size of his investment was yet to be decided.

"I saw in the newspaper that investment amount would be some billions of dollars. But it is now difficult to say how much money we will invest," he categorically said.

The government will provide 'sovereign guarantee' against the investment and his company will procure and manage all the necessary funds, he added.

Indian media reported that Sahara India is going to invest 800 billion rupee in Bangladesh and that the group has already selected 40 square kilometres of land, about 50 kilometres from Dhaka, to begin with.

Mutual interest

State Minister Abdul Mannan Khan said both the parties would work together for a win-win situation.

He said Dhaka would expand, with or without any investment of Sahara Group, after construction of Padma bridge and the government has decided that no unplanned development would be allowed in other part of Buriganga.

Sahara Group has diversified interest including infrastructure and housing, financial service, media, retail chain and consumer products.

According to Time Magazine, it is the second biggest employer in India after Indian Railway.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith speaks out, ahead of weekend trading

BANGLADESH NEWS

Breaking his long silence over the capital market, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said on Wednesday that the recent fluctuations in the indices are 'illogical'.

"I expect the stock market to follow logic… It's rising one day and falling the day next," he said at a meeting with the Dhaka Stock Exchange executive council members and officials, and the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) chief at the Secretariat aiming to find a solution to the recent market situation.

The finance minister had faced massive criticism from individual investors and ruling party MPs last year during the market instability for his comments about the investors.

After that he declared at a meeting on June 19 last year, "I do not want to talk about this ... whenever I speak, the market falls."

Downtrend ruled the market all through the last month, and the DSE general index fell to 4,828 points over the last two days, losing 194 points.

The SEC is working to stabilise the market and the government is giving its all-out support, the minister pointed out.

DSE chief Rakibur Rahman pointed out, "The market is now running with only retail [small] investors. It is not possible to stabilise the market with only retailers."

He continued that institutional investment has fallen in the market and even though banks can invest up to 10 percent, their investment is less than two percent.

"We have to see if the merchant banks and mutual funds are carrying out their responsibilities," he added urging Muhith to work to increase institutional investment.

Responding to a bdnews24.com query, the DSE chief said: "If they are not doing so, we will have to cancel their licences."

Hinting at amendment of the Bank Company Act, the DSE chief said, "We will have to keep a watch so that the limit of investment for banks is not lowered while making the changes."

Meanwhile, SEC chief M Khairul Hossain pointed out that the petitions by a number of directors challenging their directive about minimum stake to be held by directors had caused a fall in confidence of investors.

On Monday, the High Court scrapped three such petitions and upheld the SEC's Nov 22 directive mandating directors to hold minimum two percent and all sponsor-directors together to hold a total 30 percent.

Five were filed on Tuesday, but the judge did not accept them and sent them to the Chief Justice.

Hossain blamed the new petitions for the fall over the last two days. "This is happening for the lack of confidence. We have seen in our surveillance that the market is not being downed through aggressive selling."

Talk, or out I walk:BNP Vice-Chairman Nazmul Huda,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

BNP Vice-Chairman Nazmul Huda, who has been out of the media limelight for most of this spell of the party as the opposition, jumped back on Wednesday by threatening to resign from the party if Chairperson Khaleda Zia does not invite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by June 5 for dialogue over the prevailing 'confrontational' situation in the country.

Huda said in a press conference that in the wake of the current 'catastrophic' condition of the country, there is only 'one' way to peace, prosperity and development - consensus between the two party chiefs.

"To that end, I urge very specifically to our leader Khaleda Zia to call Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to sit in a dialogue within June 5," he said declaring to resign from his role as a general member and sever all ties with BNP the day after the deadline if his urge is not met. "Hope our leader will not force me to resign."

Huda also pointed out that the initiative should have been taken by Sheikh Hasina as the head of state. "But she did not. If Khaleda Zia does invite you [prime minister] at my request, please respond."

He also warned that Hasina would have to take responsibility for any instability in the country after June 10, the deadline announced by Khaleda Zia to initiate reinstatement of the caretaker government system.

The BNP chief also warned that she would declare further oust-government agitation from a rally in Dhaka on June 11 if the deadline is not met.

Huda criticised his party's role and said, "My party's policy of protesting in the streets is leading the country to confrontation. The people are disappointed at BNP's action being a patriotic party."

He also listed seven issues the two leaders could talk about in their dialogue - clause-less release of political prisoners, withdrawal of cases filed against BNP leaders after 1/11, outlines of an interim government to ensure fair and free polls, freeing the country of political partisanship, ensuring freedom of judiciary, establishing the rule of law, and use and preservation of natural and human resources only for the betterment of the country.

When asked what he will do if he has to resign, Huda told journalist, "That time will tell. I am not thinking about it now. Even if I resign, I will seek BNP's nomination in the next polls."

'Keep mum', Babar told ex-CMP chief,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Former commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) S M Sabbir Ali has said then State Minister for Home Lutfuzzaman Babar had asked him not to speak out about the involvement of the members of National Security Intelligence (NSI) in the 10-truck arms haul.

Sabbir made this statement in his deposition before the judge of Special Tribunal-1 SM Mujibur Rahman, also the Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions judge, on Wednesday in connection with the much-talked-about arms haul case.

The former CMP chief said Babar, then Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shahudul Haque, chief of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Sadique Hasan Rumi and then chief of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Anwarul Iqbal had sat in a meeting at Dampara Police Line the next day of the arms seizure.

Sabbir said he himself and then CMP Deputy Commissioner (Chittagong Seaport Zone) Abdullah Hel Baki were present at the meeting.

"At the meeting, we informed the minister and the DIG about the involvement of the NSI officials in the arms haul. Then the state minister for home had asked us not to do or speak out anything on the issue," he added.

Sabbir said the minister informed them (Ali and Baki) that a committee had been formed to investigate the incident.

The former CMP official claimed that they got no help from the high officials of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd (CUFL) during the investigation.

"During the investigation, we're confirmed that Akbar Hossain, one of the NSI field officers, had hired the trucks and cranes to unload the arms from fishing trawlers and to transport those. He could not be interrogated as we could not find him."

The day's proceedings resumed with the deposition of the former CMP commissioner, who is now on retirement. He also gave his deposition on Tuesday. The proceedings continued until 5.10pm with one hour intermission at 2.15pm. The hearing will resume in the same court on Thursday.

Sabbir told the court on Wednesday that then Home Secretary Omar Faruk, also chief of the five-member probe committee, least bothered even to record his (Sabbir) statement during visits of the investigation committee.

"When I told (Faruk) him about the involvement of high officials of NSI including its chief Abdur Rahim, he sidestepped the issue without making any remark", he added.

After his deposition, the counsels of the accused cross-examined Sabbir.

The background

On Nov 15, the court had framed formal charges against 11 accused, all named in the supplementary chargesheet, in connection with the biggest-ever arms seizure in Bangladesh to date.

Police had seized 10 trucks of arms and ammunition from the CUFL jetty in the port city on April 2, 2004. Around 1,500 wooden boxes containing submachine guns, AK-47 assault rifles, submachine carbines, Chinese pistols, rocket shells and launchers, hand grenades and bullets were seized.

The cache was believed to be meant for Indian separatist outfit United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).

Two cases were filed the next day with Karnaphuli police -- one under the Special Powers Act and the other under the Arms Act.

In 2004, investigators submitted the first chargesheet against 45 persons in the smuggling case, and 43 people in the arms case. Four persons, accused in both cases, have since died.

Fifty-two accused were charged in the case filed for smuggling firearms and 50 in the arms case in the supplementary chargesheet submitted on June 26 this year.

Two accused – ULFA leader Paresh Barua and former additional secretary of industries Nurul Amin – are yet to be arrested.

1.5mn around capital in dark,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

 Nearly 1.5 million residents of Keraniganj, Dohar and Nababganj areas around the capital have been out of electricity since Tuesday night when a fire broke out at Hasnabad Power House in Narayanganj. 

"There is no way to restore power supply until Thursday noon," Rural Electrification Board Chairman Moin Uddin said.

The fire that broke out at 7:45pm raged for over half-an-hour before it could be brought under control, cutting off electricity supply to the three upazilas and some areas of Mushiganj's Shirajdikhan.

Irrigation pumps and small factories in the areas have remained inoperative.

"The food products we had in the fridges are all rotting. We've to throw them out," Arifur Rahman Mintu, a resident of Keraniganj's Ati Bazaar, told .

Medical services at local hospitals are being maintained with the help of generators. Kolatia Modern Hospital officials said that they are being forced to spend Tk 8,000 to keep two generators running round the clock.

"No one is ready to say when power supply will be restored," Sayedul Haque Khan Dablu, a resident of Nababganj's Algichar area told .

"The fire caused extensive damage. We're trying to fix it fast," Moin Uddin told . "We're hoping to restore the supply on Thursday."

Keraniganj Model Police Station's Assistant Sub-Inspector Shoheb Ali Khandoker told bdnews24.com: "The residents are in dark since Tuesday. But law and order is good."

However, Nababganj Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Masud Karim admitted that they are having problems maintaining law and order because of the outage.

Village women build wooden bridge on self-help basis,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

A group of women of Shiali village in Patuakhali Sadar upazila have built a wooden bridge on a canal flowing through the village in a day, thanks to their labour of love to solve a long time problem in the area.

Sixty-four women belonging to local association 'Shialli Nari Polly Samaj' started the work on voluntary basis on Monday morning and competed construction of the 50-foot-long wooden bridge across Shali canal the same day. Some male members of their family helped in their effort.

In absence of a bridge, over 1000 people underwent sufferings as they had to cross the canal to go to Patuakhali district town and other places.

"Earlier we urged the solvent people in the area to help build the bride but to no effect. Finding no alternative we planned to build a wooden bridge across the canal. Finally we completed the task through daylong work," said Shahida Begum, 42, leader of the group.

Forkan Sikder, vice chairman of Patuakhali Sadar upazila parishad, inaugurated the work in presence of some officials of NGO Brac at about 9:30am.

Forkan Sikder donated Tk 5,000 for the purpose.

Under 'women's empowerment programme', Brac organised the women in the village through 'Polly Samaj' that now comprises 64 members.

"We encouraged them to get organised and build up their capacities in social works by providing training. They themselves manage money for the purpose," said Md Mohsin Uddin, Patuakhali district manager of Brac.

"We meet every two months and take plan of works that are needed for the society. We also work for preventing child marriage and ill-treatment for dowry etc," Shahida said.

Remain alert against undemocratic power capture, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tells professionals

BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for the continuation of democratic process in the country and urged all to remain vigil so that no one can capture power in the future through undemocratic means.

“Now we'll have to take a decision. We carried out movements on many occasions in the past to restore 

democracy and we've been able to do that. But, democracy faced setbacks several times and you'll have to 

remain vigil so that no one could take power in any undemocratic way in the future,” she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing the newly-elected central executive committee of Professionals 

Coordination Council at her office. Council President Justice AFM Mesbahuddin led the delegation.

PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting.

Hasina said where there is continuation of democratic process there is development.

She said the five-year rule of BNP-Jamaat alliance government and the successive two-year tyrannical period in the name of caretaker government left behind a trail of corruption and mismanagement in the country.

She mentioned that the caretaker government oppressed many teachers, students, businessmen and politicians and filed cases against them.

Mentioning that there has been no delay in holding the trial of war criminals, the premier called upon all, including the professionals, to remain united as ill-efforts are on to protect the war criminals.

She also expressed her strong resolve that democratic process would continue in Bangladesh alongside the efforts to make it a prosperous country.

She also urged the professionals to help publicise the development activities of the government as their working field was very vast.

Hasina mentioned that her government was doing very well compared to many other countries despite the global economic 'recession'.

Turning to BDR mutiny, she said the trial of the mutiny was being held and many of the accused had already been punished although there was a record number of accused.

“The trial of all other sensitive cases like 10-truck arms haul case and August 21 grenade attack case would certainly be held to establish the rule of law in the country,” she added.

The premier mentioned that through the 15th amendment to the constitution, the spirit of the War of Liberation had been restored, people's empowerment ensured and the scope of grabbing state power by undemocratic forces plugged.

Professionals Coordination Council Secretary General Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan, Buet Vice Chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, also spoke on the occasion.

No bail, again 33 opposition leaders stay in jail as Dhaka sessions judge's court too rejects petition in arson case

BANGLADESH NEWS

The Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in Dhaka too rejected yesterday the bail petitions of BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 32 other top opposition leaders who are in jail since May 16.

On May 16, a metropolitan magistrate sent the leaders to jail, turning down their bail prayers in the case filed for torching a bus near the Prime minister's Office during hartal on April 29.

Apparently frustrated, the petitioner's counsels who include some senior jurists hinted that they would appeal to the High Court against the sessions court order.

Yesterday, Judge Mohammad Zahurul Haque of the sessions court rejected the 15 bail petitions of the 33 accused leaders.

The same court on May 17 rejected the bail petition of BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi who also is in jail in the same case.

BNP leaders yesterday alleged that the government is conspiring to keep the top opposition leaders away from participating in the next general election by convicting them under the Speedy Trial Act.

“But the conspiracy will not succeed and all the leaders will come out of jail through a mass upsurge,” opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque said while addressing a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club, organised by Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal.

Moving the bail petitions yesterday, senior jurists like Rafiq-ul Huq, Moudud Ahmed, Aminul Haque and Zainul Abedin said their clients were implicated in the case to harass them politically. And at least four of the 

accused leaders including Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu were outside the capital on April 29, they added.

Rafiq-ul Huq told the court, "Most of them are former lawmakers, ministers and important persons of the country. People of such standing cannot run away, and it is clear that the case filed by the police is fabricated.”

Opposing the bail petitions, Metropolitan Public Prosecutor (PP) Abdullah Abu and Dhaka District PP 

Khandaker Abdul Mannan said the investigation officer of the case pressed charges against 45 accused since 

the charges brought against them were primarily proved. So, their bail petitions should be rejected.

On May 21, another Dhaka court accepted bus torching charges against Mirza Fakhrul and 44 other leaders 

and activists of the BNP-led 18-party alliance. The court also sent BNP Joint Secretary General Mahbub Uddin Khokon,MP, another accused in the case, to jail after rejecting his prayer for extension of bail.

Jamaat-e-Islami acting Ameer Maqbul Ahmed and two others went into hiding after the case was filed.

The accused in the arson case filed by Tejgaon police on April 29 include BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Liberal Democratic Party President Oli Ahmed.