Bangladesh: Search warrant against Khaleda Zia's office

Dhaka, March 2: A Bangladesh court has issued a search warrant against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Dhaka office after reports that she could be hiding fugitives and explosives there, media reported on Monday.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate SM Masud Zaman issued the warrant on Sunday, bdnews 24 reported.

Police have asked for the warrant in the explosive case filed against the bombing over a procession outside Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan's office on February 16 which killed at least 11 people.

The issuance of the warrant was kept under wraps.

Zia, who is also the chief of Bangladesh National Party (BNP), has been living in her office for nearly two months since calling for countrywide blockades from January 5, 2015.

About 50 people, including several leaders and activists, security personnel, and office staff members have been staying in the office.

Last week, metropolitan sessions judge's court issued an arrest warrant against Khaleda in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases.

Several worker organisations have marched toward the office since the start of blockade in a bid to urge the BNP chief to withdraw the violent programme, crippling the country.

Police have kept the office surrounded since January 3 when they barred the BNP chief from leaving her office.

Although, the barricade was lifted several days later, Khaleda continued to stay there.

Police started controlling access to the office again from February 11. Power lines were cut once, and internet and telephone connections were allegedly snapped for sometime.

They did not allow food to be supplied from outside and only allowed family members to visit and bring food for her.

IANS