The High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to 120 BNP leaders and activists including BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy till January 5 next year in separate cases filed over the arson attacks on buses in Dhaka.

The HC bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan passed the order following petitions filed by the lawyer representing the accused BNP men.

After the court order, lawyer Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajol told reporters: "A total of 120 BNP leaders and activists, including Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Jubo Dal President Saiful Alam Nirob, General Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku, BNP candidate SM Jahangir Hossain in the by-polls to Dhaka-17 constituency, Chhatra Dal President Fazlur Rahman Khokon, secured anticipatory bail till January 5."

The High Court also ordered the BNP men to surrender before court during this period, he said. 

Earlier on November 12, a total of 10 buses were torched at different areas of the capital within a span of one hour. 

Police said the arson attacks were carried out with an aim to create anarchy during the Dhaka-18 by-polls.

As many as 16 cases have been filed so far with 12 police stations against BNP leaders and activists on charge of torching buses, throwing crude and petrol bombs to foil the Dhaka-18 by-polls.

BDST: 1400 HRS, NOV 18, 2020
AP/SMS