Dhaka: A Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) leader Salauhuddin Ahmed and 18 others in a case filed with Jatrabari police under Explosives Act.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Kamrul Hossain Molla on Tuesday issued the arrest warrant.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Tapash Kumar Paul told NTV Online the judge consider the charge sheet submitted by police on Tuesday.

Tapash Kumar said some noteworthy accused of the case are BNP leaders Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel, Shimul Biswas, and Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu. The other accused are also leaders and activists of BNP.

The case statement says the case was filed under explosive act against unidentified accused with the Jatrabari police during the shutdowns and blockades enforced by BNP in January 2015.

The statement claims the unnamed accused vandalised vehicles, hurled crude bombs, and held arson attacks to create terror among public during the blockades.

Police filed charge sheet with Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s (CMM) court after investigating the case. Later, the charge sheet was sent to Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Court for trial.

Earlier, on 10 March 2015, BNP leader Salahuddin’s family claimed that members of law enforcing agencies picked him up from Uttara residence, an allegation denied by the law enforcers and the government.

Later, on 12 May 2015, Salahuddin was found at mental hospital in India’s Shillong.

On 11 May, Indian police arrested Salahuddin arrest when he was hanging around aimlessly in Golf Links area of Shillong after nearly two months of his disappearance and took him to a psychiatric hospital at Shillong.

Meghalaya police booked him under the Foreigners Act as he had no valid papers, identity proof or travel permit.