Bangladesh: Arrest warrants issued for opposition heads

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - A local court on Monday issued arrest warrants against top Bangladeshi opposition leaders taking a case into consideration hours after it filed on ‘death threat’ to the country’s prime minister.

The case statement read the complainant received a letter issuing death threat to the complainant and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The arrest warrant issues against Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and some seven others top leaders.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate passed the order after the plaintiff filed the case on Monday. AB Siddiqui, president of ‘Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad’, a pro-ruling party organization filed the case.

Before filing this case, AB Siddiqui in different times filed a total 16 cases against the opposition BNP party including five cases against BNP chief.

“The accused are making threats to me as I have filed cases against their leaders including Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. They have sent me threat letter in the name of IS. That is why I have taken refuge of court,” Siddiqui told state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

Mr Siddiqui also claimed that the letter he got also threatened to assassinate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members. He alleged a BNP follower also named in the case had sent him the letter on July last.

The BNP chairperson also three-time former prime minister Khaleda Zia, widow of late president of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman, is serving 17 years of imprisonment after court convicted her in several corruption cases.

And, Tarique Rahman also son of Khaleda Zia is currently residing in London for past several years after he charged and convicted with number of corruption cases.

The BNP, however, believed cases including against Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman were politically motivated.