COMILLA, Feb 4: Two cases have been filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia accusing her of instigating the arson attack in Chowddagram of Comilla where seven bus passengers were burnt to death on the spot and at least 28 others sustained burn injury on Tuesday early hours.
Chowddagram Police Station SI Nuruzzman Hawlader filed the lawsuits on Tuesday night against 56 named and up to 20 other unknown people, Uttam Kumar Chakraborty officer-in-charge of the police station said.
"The arson attack was carried out in line with the orders of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. That is why Khaleda is named as an instigator in both cases," said Nuruzzaman Howladar, the SI who filed the case.
The others accused including BNP standing committee member Barister Rafiqul Islam Mia, joint general secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Salauddin Ahmed and former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, now the party's upazila chief, has been named prime accused in both the cases, OC Uttam Kumar added.
On the other hand police arrested 15 people including Comilla district Jamaat Secretary Khandaker Delwar Hossain and four-injured people.
The injured arrestees are; Abu Sufian, 20, son of Abul Kalam of Suagazi area under Comilla Sadar Dakkhin upazila, Abu Yousuf, 23, son of late Fazlur Rahman of Narghar village and Abdul Ali, 22, son of Abdul Barik of Baghapuskurini under Chowddagram upazila, and Borhan Uddin, 25, son of Ishaq Mia of Hosakhal village under Nangolkot upazila of Comilla district.
The injured-arrestee is now admitted to Comilla Medical College Hospital.
Earlier, on Tuesday early morning, at least seven people were burned alive and 28 were sustained burn injured after miscreants petrol-bombed a bus full of sleeping passengers at Jagmohonpur under Chowddagram upazila of Comilla district on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.