Dhaka: A court here on Wednesday issued warrants for the arrest of 39 leaders and activists of BNP in an arson case filed with Paltan Police Station.

Dhaka Metropolitan Session's Judge M Quamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order accepting the chargesheet against them.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, BNP leaders Zainul Abedin, Maruf Kamal Khan, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Shirin Sultana, Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papiya and Mir Sharafat Ali Sapu were among the accused.

Debi Kanta Barman, sub-inspector of Paltan Police Station and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the chargesheet against 53 leaders and activists of BNP in the case.

Of the accused, two BNP leaders-Barkatullah Bulu and Manir Hossain - are now in prison while 12 accused, including Amanullah Aman, MK Anwar and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, secured bail from the court.

On February 3, 2015, miscreants set a CNG-run auto-rickshaw afire in front of Scout Building in the city's Paltan area during a blockade programme enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.