Dhaka: A Dhaka court on Monday issued arrest warrant against 16 BNP leaders, including its standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, in a case for hurling petrol bomb at a bus in the capital’s Pallabi area on 26 January.

Dhaka Metropolitan Special Judge 1 Mohammad Kamrul Hossain Mollah issued the arrest warrant against them as they did not appear before the court during the hearing on the case.

Earlier on 30 April, sub inspector Abu Syed of Pallabi Police Station, who is also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against 21 leaders and activists of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

The accused against whom the arrest warrants have been issued also include Khaleda Zia’s press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel, special assistant to BNP chairperson advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, former Chhatradal President Azizul Bari Helal and Swechchhasebak Dal central president Habibunnabi Khan Sohel.

On 25 January, during countrywide blockade and hartal the BNP leaders and activists allegedly blasted a petrol bomb at a bus of Sikhor Paribahan in front of 11 no section of Dhaka’s Pallabi area.

Later, Jakir Hossain, driver of the bus filed a case in this connection under the Special Powers Act with Pallabi police.