A COURT in eastern Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia over an arson attack during an anti-government protest two years ago.
Magistrate Joynab Begum issued orders in a packed courtroom in Comilla district against Zia and 48 other opposition activists after a police official pressed charges against them.
The official said authorities found Zia and the others responsible for the attack on a bus that killed eight people in 2015.
It is unlikely that Zia would be arrested, as she has often been able to obtain legal protection from the High Court against arrest or harassment.
There was no immediate reaction from her Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
A prosecution lawyer said the order would ask the court to indict the defendants.
Zia faces numerous such cases involving violence.
Her party says they are politically motivated, but authorities have rejected the claims.
The cases against Zia are crucial because if she is found guilty, she would be ineligible to contest a national election later this year.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here