Comilla arson case: Court fixes October 3 as new hearing date

A Comilla court has deferred the hearing date for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's bail petition in a case filed under Special Powers Act over an arson attack in the district's Chauddagram upazila in 2015.

On Sunday, Comilla Senior Judicial Magistrate 5 Judge Md Jalal Uddin fixed October 3 as the new date.

Also read- Comilla court to hear Khaleda's bail petition on Sept 30

Khaleda Zia's lawyer Md Kaimul Haque Rinku confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune. Public prosecutor Md Mostafizur Rahman Liton acted as the state counsel.

Earlier, the court deferred the bail hearing to September 20.

Khaleda's lawyer Rinku said: "Based on the state's appeal, the court has fixed October 3 as the new date for Khaleda Zia's bail petition. We provided all the necessary paperwork according to the court's instructions today [Sunday].

"Khaleda's name was not even included in the FIR case," Rinku claimed. "But due to political reasons, the court is repeatedly deferring the date."

Earlier, on January 25, 2015, a case was filed against Khaleda Zia for torching a covered-van on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway at a place called Haiderpur in the municipal area of Chauddagram upazila. 

On January 26, Chauddagram police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Nuruzzaman Howlader filed a case against 32 members of the BNP-led 20-party alliance including the chairperson for arson under Special Powers Act.