Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Bangla court takes up murder case against ex-PM
Dhaka,
June
5:
A
Bangladesh
court
ordered
police
today
to
investigate
charges
of
murder
against
former
prime
minister
Begum
Khaleda
Zia
and
27
others
for
involvement
in
a
deadly
grenade
attack
in
2004
on
an
opposition
rally,
court
officials
said.
The
grenades
exploded
at
a
rally
being
addressed
by
Khaleda's
rival
Sheikh
Hasina,
killing
23
members
of
the
Awami
League.
Hasina
escaped
unhurt
but
suffered
partial
loss
of
hearing
due
to
the
impact
of
the
blasts.
About
150
people
were
wounded
in
the
attack
on
August
21,
2004,
police
and
party
officials
said.
Police did not probe the country's worst attack on a political rally during the rule of Khaleda, which ended last October.
The two women have alternated as prime ministers of the impoverished south Asian country for 15 years since 1991 but remained bitter foes, without speaking to each other for more than a decade.
Hasina herself faces charges of murder linked to political violence in the capital, following Khaleda's exit from power, which led to the imposition of emergency and ban on political activity by the interim authority.
The authority also cancelled an election planned for January 22, in which Khaleda and Hasina would again be the key contenders.
Officials said the military-backed government is targeting both the ex-premiers in the anti-corruption drive as their family members and relatives have been detained on charges of graft, extortion and abuse of power.
Reuters
>
