Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the trial court to resume trial proceedings in an arson attack case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 77 others of 20-party alliance.
Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order staying an order of the High Court (HC) that halted the trial proceedings of the case. Considering a leave to appeal petition filed by the government, the chamber judge stayed the HC order and sent the petition to the full bench of the appellate division for its hearing on March 29.
The case was filed on February 3, 2015 with Chauddagram Police Station in Comilla after eight people were killed and 20 others injured in a petrol bomb attack on a bus.
The law enforcers submitted the charge-sheet of the case in a Comilla Court accusing Khaleda and the others on March 2 last year.
On October 25 last year, the HC stayed the trial proceedings of the case following a petition filed by BNP leader Rizvi Ahmed, who is also an accused.
The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the trial proceedings of the case should not be scrapped.
Later the State appealed against the HC order. The Chamber Judge passed the order considering the appeal.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said, now there is no legal bar to proceed with the case in the trial court.
At least eight people were killed and 20 were injured in a petrol bomb attack on a bus on February 3 in 2015 in Chauddagram Upazila of Comilla District during countrywide blockade program called by BNP-Jamaat alliance.
