Bangladesh opposition leader granted bail in arson case

Former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia has surrendered to a court in connection with an arrest warrant over a deadly fire bombing attack on a bus but she was granted bail. 

The Dhaka magistrate court, which had issued an arrest warrant for the 70-yaer-old leader, granted her bail after she turned herself in on Tuesday.

“She surrendered to the court this morning and was granted bail in the arson case. She also got bail in four other cases,” Zia’s lawyer, Masud Ahmed Talukder, said, referring to long-standing cases of corruption and other charges.

Around 5,000 supporters of Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had gathered in front of the court as she surrendered under tight security. The party had threatened to organize rallies across the country if she was arrested.

Last week, the court issued a warrant for her arrest on charges of instigating a fire-bomb attack on a bus that killed two people and injured dozens of others in January 2015.

The bomb attack occurred during a nationwide blockade of roads, rail and waterways. The blockade had been called by Zia to urge Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and pave the way for new elections.

The blockade, however, caused a wave of violence that left more than 120 people dead. Hundreds of buses and trucks were put on fire. Police reportedly confronted protesters by firing live rounds.

Back then, Zia, who had warned the government that she would lead an anti-government demonstration through the capital, Dhaka, was held in her office for months during the blockade.

She has not commented publicly on the arrest warrant against her, but leaders and activists from her party have dismissed the accusation that she was to blame for the attack as politically motivated.

The arrest warrant was not Zia’s first. Last year a court issued another warrant against her for alleged corruption. Zia, however, was granted bail then, too, after surrendering.

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