DHAKA: A city court on Monday (February 29) granted bail of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s advisor Abdul Awal Mintoo in seven cases filed with Paltan, Ramna and Shahbagh thanas for carrying out subversive attacks during the BNP-led strike and blockade in January 2015.

The court of metropolitan magistrates Maruf Hossain bailed in five cases filed with Paltan Thana and Khurshid Alam passed the bail order for two cases with Ramna and Shahbagh thanas as the BNP leader surrendered before CMM court and pled for bail at noon.

Abdul Awal Mintoo’s lawyer Taherul Islam Tawhid confirmed the matter to banglanews.

Advocate Sanaullah Miah and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon moved in favor of the bail while public prosecutor Shah Alam Talukdar opposed the plea.

The BNP leader’s lawyers said to the court that Abdul Awal Mintoo was not in the procession and police also failed to produce any footage linked with the charges. He is physically not well and there is no clear allegation against him in the chargesheet.

On the other hand, the PP alleged that Abdul Awal Mintoo is an accused listed in the chargesheet and remain fugitive for a long time.

However, the case with Shahbagh Thana was filed in December, 2014 and others in January, 2015 during the unstable situation of the country created by BNP’s announcement of indefinite strike and blockade ahead of AL-led government’s anniversary.

BDST: 2129 HRS, FEB 29, 2016
BD/RR