Cops fail to submit probe report for fifth time

A Dhaka court yesterday asked police for the fifth time to submit the probe report of a murder case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and three other party leaders.

The Gulshan police was supposed to submit the report yesterday.

The court fixed January 3, 2016 as the new deadline.

The murder case was filed for allegedly killing 42 people during the anti-government movement of the BNP-led 20-party alliance since January 5.

The other accused are BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia, BNP vice-chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury and pro-BNP intellectual Prof Emajuddin Ahmed.

An officer of the Gulshan division police said the investigation was going on, and the report would be submitted within a short time.

AB Siddique, president of pro-Awami League Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka on February 2. 

According to the complaint, the firebombing by BNP-led 20-party men during the nonstop blockade killed 42 people and injured hundreds. The blockade began after the government did not allow BNP to hold a rally marking the first anniversary of the election held on January 5, 2014 when, the party said, democracy was destroyed.