DHAKA:  A Dhaka court Monday rejected the bail petitions of three top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, who are now facing trial in the war-crime tribunal, in connection with a sedition case filed with Uttara police station.

Earlier in the day, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary-General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and Nayeb-e-Ameer Delwar Hossain Sayedee were produced before the court.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate SK Tofael issued the order of rejection as Advocate Abdur Razzak pleaded for their bail.

Another lawyer for the defendants, Kamal Uddin Ahmed, told banglanews24.com.bd the court fixed September 22 for submitting the probe report on the case.

Police arrested 31 persons from Uttara on February 12 on charges of plotting “to topple the government, hamper the country’s internal security and tarnish country’s image through subversive acts”.

Sub-Inspector Selim Hossain filed the sedition case with Uttara thana on that day.

The three top Jamaat leaders were arrested on June 29 on charges of hurting religious sentiments of Muslims through their perceived blasphemous comments. Thereafter, they have been implicated in a number of other cases, specially on war-crime charges.    

BDST: 1740 HRS, AUG 16, 2010