Dhaka: A Dhaka court on Thursday issued warrants for 14 leaders and activists of BNP, including its Vice-chairman Selima Rahman, in an arson case filed with Pallabi Police last year.

Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Mohammad Quamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order after taking cognisance of the charges brought against them in the case.

Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Syeda Ashifa Ashrafi Papiya, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Mir Sharafat Ali Sapu, Azizul Bari Helal and Khaleda Zia’a press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel were among the 14 BNP leaders.

The court also asked the officer-in-charge of Pallabi Police Station to submit a progress report about the court order on 2 November.

In January this year, Pallabi thana police submitted a chargesheet against 20 BNP leaders in the case filed under the Special Power Act.

On 2 February, 2015, police filed a case against a number of BNP leaders and activists in connection with arson attack on a bus in Pallabi area during the hartal and blockade programme enforced by BNP led 20-Party Alliance.

BNP leader Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah among five secured bail in the case while BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is now in jail.