Dhaka: A Dhaka court on Sunday issued warrants for the arrest of 17 leaders and activists of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, including BNP leader MK Anwar, in an arson case filed with Wari Police Station.

Metropolitan Magistrate Quamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order after accepting the chargesheet in the case.

The court also asked the police official concerned to submit a report on the compliance of the order on March 22 next.

BNP vice-chairman Barkatullah Bulu, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Maruf Kamal Khan, Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, Shirin Sultana, Salauddin Ahmed, Khairul Kabir Khokon were among the accused.

On January 30, 2015, miscreants set a bus of ‘Kamal Minibus’ on fire after hurling petrol bomb on it over Mayor Hanif Flyover under Wari Police Station during a hartal and blockade programme enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

Omar Ali, sub-inspector of the police station, filed a case under the Special Powers Act against 16 identified and a number of unidentified leaders and activists of the combine.

On July 24, 2016, Aminul Islam, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the chargesheet against 34 people. Of them, 15, including BNP leader Amanullah Aman, have already secured bail in the case.