MK Anwar. Star File Photo.

The High Court today granted anticipatory bail to BNP leaders MK Anwar, Tariqul Islam, Abdul Awal Mintoo and Amanullah Aman in 56 separate arson and vandalism cases.

BNP’s standing committee members Anwar and Tariqul got bail in nine and four cases respectively while party chief Khaleda Zia’s adviser Mintoo obtained bail in one case and BNP’s Joint Secretary General Aman in 42 cases, their lawyer AKM Ehsanur Rahman told The Daily Star.

The High Court bench of Justice Syed Mohammad Ziaul Karim and Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain granted the bail for four weeks after the BNP leaders appeared before the bench with separate bail petitions.

Ehsan said all the cases were filed in and around Dhaka during the blockade and hartals enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance this year.