147 leaders and activists of BNP-led alliance indicted for March 2013 violence

A Dhaka court indicted 147 leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led 18-party alliance (now 20-party), including then opposition chief Zainal Abdin Farroque in a case filed for assaulting police and blasting bombs near the BNP's Nayapaltan office during an anti-government movement in March last year.

Farroque and 98 other accused, which also include BNP leaders Rizvi Ahmed and Amanullah Aman, pleaded not guilty and demanded justice after Metropolitan Magistrate Tareq Mainul Islam Bhuiyan read out charges to them, reports the Daily Star.

The court cancelled the bail petitions of 48 other accused and issued arrest warrants against them as they were not present at the court.

It fixed September 25 for starting trial of the case filed against 154 people with Paltan Police Station under the Speedy Trial Act.

Police on March 24 pressed charges against 148 leaders and activists of the alliance in the case.

Charges against one, out of the 148 accused, were dropped as he died last year.

On March 20, 151 opposition leaders and activists except Zainul, Aman and Rizvi were placed on remand for their alleged involvement in the case.