Fakhrul's indictment hearing in arson case deferred

A Dhaka court yesterday deferred to January 28 the hearing on charge framing against 46 opposition leaders, including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in an arson case.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ataul Haque passed the order after lawyers for Fakhrul and 31 others who remained absent yesterday, sought adjournment on different excuses.

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In their petitions, the lawyers said they had earlier filed leave-to-appeals with the Supreme Court against the High Court order, which are now pending. 

BNP leaders ASM Hannan Shah, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and six others were present in the court while six others, including Jamaat-e-Islami acting ameer Maqbul Ahmad, have been absconding since the case was filed.

The case was filed against them with Tejgaon Police Station in connection with torching of a bus near Prime Minister's Office during hartal hours of April 29, 2012. 

The opposition alliance enforced the hartal to protest the disappearance of BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali.