Two arrest warrants issued against Khaleda Zia

Two separate Dhaka courts issued arrest warrants against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in two separate cases on Thursday.

Dhaka Special Court-5 judge Akhtaruzzaman handed down the arrest warrant in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in response to a petition filed by the state seeking an arrest warrant against her for failing to show up in court.

Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Sanaullah Mia told Prothom Alo that Akhtaruzzaman’s court issued the arrest warrant against BNP chairperson for her absence in court.

Dhaka Metropolitan magistrate Nur Nabi issued another arrest warrant against the BNP chief in a case filed in 2016 over undermining Bangladesh's map, its national flag and liberation war.

The plaintiff of the case, AB Siddique, said the court on 17 September asked Khaleda Zia to appear before the court on 5 October this year, but she failed to show up.

Following her absence, the court has issued the arrest warrant against her, he added.

On 3 November 2016, AB Siddique filed the case against former president Ziaur Rahman, and his wife of Khaleda Zia accusing them of defamation.