BNP’s Moazzem Hossain Alal, former Juba Dal president Saiful Islam Nirob, and six others were sentenced to three years in jail for their involvement in an arson attack on a passenger bus in the city's Dhanmondi area during BNP and Jamaat-e-islami's hartal in 2013. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim passed the order under two separate sections on Sunday (December 31).

The other six convicts are former Chhatra Dal president Abdul Quader Jewel, Jamaat's Dhaka city (south) secretary Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud; and BNP leaders Harun Or Rashid, Obaidul Haque, Shahidul Islam Heera and Ibrahim.

The court also fined each Tk 10,000, in default, they will have to serve two more months in jail.

According to the case statement, on December 1, 2013, the convicts set a passenger bus on fire on Sat Masjid Road in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

Later, the then Dhanmondi Police Station SI Abdullah Al Mamun filed a case over the incident.

BDST: 1606 HRS, DEC 31, 2023
MSK/SMS