Dhaka: A Dhaka court granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a case filed over an arson attack on a bus at Jatrabari in the city last year.

Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Kamrul Hossain Molla morning issued the order on Tuesday.

The BNP chief surrendered before the court at about 10:30am and submitted a petition seeking bail in two cases at about 10:40am.

Khaleda Zia’s senior lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Sanaullah Mia, Masud Ahmed Talukder and around 50 counsels were present during her surrender in the court.

Earlier on 30 March, a Dhaka court issued warrants for the arrest of Khaleda and 27 BNP-Jamaat men in the case over the arson attack at Jatrabari in the city during the BNP-led 20-party’s blockade.

Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Mohammad Quamrul Hossain Molla passed the order after accepting the chargesheet against 38 people submitted by Jahidul Islam, sub-inspector of the Jatrabari Police Station.

The order came after the investigation officer showed Khaleda and 27 others fugitives, and appealed to the court to issue warrants for their arrests.

On 23 January last year, at least 31 people suffered burn injuries after miscreants hurled two petrol bombs at a bus in Jatrabari intersection. One of the injured later died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Sub-inspector of Jatrabari Police Station KM Nuruzzaman filed two cases—one for killing and another for hurling petrol bombs—under the Special Powers Act on 24 January, making Khaleda the mastermind of the attack.