Dhaka: The Detective Branch (DB) of police on Tuesday submitted another chargesheet against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 37 others in a case filed over the Jatrabari arson attack on a bus during the BNP-led 20-party’s blockade on 23 January.

DB Sub-inspector M Jahidul Islam submitted the chargesheet to the Metropolitan Magistrate Court (CMM) in the case filed under the Special Powers Act in connection with the incident.

The other accused include BNP joint secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka City BNP member secretary Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel, Khaleda’s special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, BNP central leaders Azizul Bari Helal, Sultan Salauddin Tuku and Swechchhasebak Dal secretary Sharafatullah Safu.

Earlier, on 6 May, DB police pressed murder charges against the same accused in the case filed over the attack that killed one person and injured 28 others.

On 23 January, at least 29 people suffered burn injuries after miscreants hurled two petrol bombs at a Glory Paribahan bus at Katherpul of Jatrabari at about9.30pm on its way to Rupganj from Gulistan. One of the injured later died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

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

According to the case statements, the BNP chairperson on 5 January called the countrywide non-stop blockade and asked her leaders and activists to paralyse the country until the government was ousted. Following her directives, her party men torched the bus.