Bangladesh opposition leader and party members charged with murder
- BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and more than 100 party members were charged on Sunday with the murder of a policeman killed during protests
- Those being charged make up the bulk of the BNP leadership, and potentially face the death penalty if they are found guilty
Bangladesh’s main opposition leader and more than 100 other top party members were charged on Sunday with the murder of a policeman killed in demonstrations that have erupted ahead of coming elections.
“At least 164 Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were accused of murdering the police officer,” police official Salahuddin Mia said, adding that charges had been filed against them.
Those being charged make up the bulk of the BNP leadership, and potentially face the death penalty if they are found guilty.
Alamgir, 75, the BNP’s secretary general, has led the party since BNP chairwoman and two-time former premier Khaleda Zia was arrested and jailed, and her son went into exile in Britain.
Dhaka police commissioner Habibur Rahman had earlier said Alamgir had been “detained for interrogation” for Saturday’s violence in which a police officer and a protester were killed, and at least 26 police ambulances were torched or damaged.
Police on Saturday said the officer had been hacked to death and accused BNP activists of the killing.
The resurgent opposition has been mounting protests against the prime minister for months, despite ailing leader Zia being effectively under house arrest since her release from prison after a conviction on corruption charges