BANGLADESH NEWS
A Dhaka court on Tuesday framed charges against BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 45 others in an arson case.
Metropolitan Magistrate Harun-or-Rashid framed the charges rejecting the adjournment petition filed by defence lawyers.
The court also fixed August 7 for starting trial of the case.
Of the accused, Fakhrul and 38 others were present during the charge framing.
Meanwhile, the court also issued arrest warrants against BNP leaders Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Amanullah Aman and Nazimuddin rejecting their bail petitions.
Following the development, pro-BNP lawyers brought out a procession on the court premises protesting the court order.
Earlier, a metropolitan magistrate felt embarrassed to hear the case as the accused showed no-confidence in him.
Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Erfan Ullah felt embarrassed when defence lawyers filed no-confidence petition against him as he had simultaneously rejected their two petitions during the day's hearing.
In the no-confidence petition, they claimed that they will not get justice from the court as it rejected their petitions seeking adjournment of the hearing on charge framing in the arson case.
In the wake of the situation, the metropolitan magistrate sent the matter to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka for the next course of action in the case.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Bikash Kumar Saha sent the case to Metropolitan Magistrate Harun-or-Rashid.
Later, the metropolitan magistrate framed charges against the opposition leaders.
Police filed the case against the accused hours after a vehicle was set ablaze near the Prime Minister's Office in the capital during hartal hours on April 29.
PETITIONS AND ITS REJECTION
Earlier in the day, defence lawyers submitted a petition before the metropolitan magistrate saying that they had file a writ petition with the High Court on Sunday challenging the legality of appointing the magistrate to run the case.
As an order on the writ is yet to come and the issues remain pending in the HC, the defence on Tuesday prayed for an adjournment of the hearing on charge framing in the case.
But, the prosecution opposed it saying that the HC neither passed any order nor gave a stay on the issue. So, the case proceedings should go on, prosecution observed.
After hearing both sides, the court rejected the adjournment petition filed by defence.
Following the rejection, the defence filed another petition before the court seeking its permission to go to the higher court challenging its rejection order. Then, the court further rejected the petition.
In this situation, the defence filed no-confidence petition against the judge and the court sent the matter to CMM court.
ACCUSED IN THE CASE
Of the 46 accused, Jamaat-e-Islami acting Ameer Maqbul Ahmad and three leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir have been absconding since the case was filed against them.
Former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka is in abroad for treatment while BNP leaders Amanullah Aman and Nazimuddin Alam are in Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah.
Remaining 39 opposition leaders including Fakhrul were present during the day's proceedings.
BACKGROUND
On May 10, detectives pressed charges against Mirza Fakhrul and 45 others in the arson case.
All the accused got bail in the case on June 7 and 14.
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