Bangladesh's ex-PM seeks bail in bus bombing case

Dhaka, April 3: Bangladesh’s former prime minister and main opposition leader Khaleda Zia is expected to appear in court and seek bail after an arrest warrant being issued over a bus bombing attack, her lawyer said on Sunday.

A court in Dhaka on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for Zia, 70, and 27 leaders of the Bangladesh tiolist Party (BNP) in connection with a bomb attack on a bus in January 2015 during an anti-government campaign, the Daily Star reported.

“Madam (Zia) will appear before the court on April 5 and will seek bail,” her lawyer Saullah Miah told reporters.

The BNP called for a countrywide protest on Monday against the arrest warrant, saying it was politically motivated.

More than 120 people were killed and hundreds injured last year in political violence during transport blockades and strikes aimed at toppling the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasi. (IANS)