MK Anwar, Rizvi cleared of arson attack charges

Detectives today pressed charges against seven people and dropped 26 BNP leaders and activists, including MK Anwar and Rizvi Ahmed, in a case filed for an arson attack that killed a policeman near Matsya Bhaban in Dhaka.

The seven named in the charge sheet are BNP leader Habibunnabi Khan Sohel and six other low profile leaders and activists of the party.

Police constable Shamim Mia, 28, suffered injuries to his head while trying to escape a petrol bomb attack on a police bus near the Matsya Bhaban in the capital on January 17. The attack left at least 13 cops injured.

Two policemen taking treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being injured in the arson attack. File Photo: Star

After battling for life for 19 days, Shamim succumbed to his injuries at Square Hospital in the capital.

The other accused are New Market thana unit BNP President Abdus Sattar, its two members Mohammad Alfaz and Shah Alam, Dhaka College unit ex-JCD president Anwar Hossain alias Tipu, Dhaka South City Corporation Ward-18 BNP acting president Mohammad Hossain and Gauchhia Market unit BNP member Mohammad Rafiq Akand.

Of them, Sohel, Anwar and Sattar were shown fugitives while four others were earlier arrested and they are now in jail.

Sub-Inspector Dipak Kumar Das of Detective Branch (DB) of Police, also investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka, showing 23 people as prosecution witnesses.

He appealed to the court to issue arrest warrants against the fugitives.

Dipak dropped the names of 26 BNP leaders and activists as investigation found them not involved in the arson attack.