Khaleda Zia surrenders in court, granted bail

Khaleda Zia is under investigation for allegedly instigating a deadly petrol bomb attack on a bus during an anti-government protest last year. “She has secured bail against the arrest warrant surrendering before the court,” an official of the Metropolitan sessions judge’s court told reporters

Hundreds of Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) supporters and leaders surrounded the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court complex in old Dhaka while police in riot gears kept a sharp vigil as Zia appeared in the court.  

The development came six days after the court issued an arrest warrant against the 70-year-old Zia and 37 others in connection with instigating a deadly petrol bomb attack on a bus during an anti-government protest last year. 

Zia was spearheading a violent nationwide campaign to topple Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Awami League government. The arrest order was another blow to the embattled two-time former premier, who has described previous cases, including corruption-related, against her as politically motivated.