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Cumilla, July 7, 2025: BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been acquitted in three cases filed in connection with petrol bomb attacks and arson incidents in Cumilla’s Chauddagram in 2015. The cases were withdrawn considering their political nature, as confirmed by Cumilla District Public Prosecutor Kaimul Haque Rinku.
On February 3, 2015, a petrol bomb attack on a bus in Jagmohanpur, Chauddagram, resulted in the deaths of eight passengers. Two separate cases were filed under murder and explosives laws, naming Khaleda Zia and 78 others as accused. The plaintiff in these cases was Nuruzzaman Hawladar, a police officer at Chauddagram Police Station at the time. Following a change in the political situation after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, no evidence of Khaleda Zia’s involvement was found during the hearings. Consequently, Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-2 Judge Safikul Islam acquitted her. At the time of the incident, Khaleda Zia was confined to her Gulshan residence, blockaded by sand trucks.
In another incident on January 25, 2015, a covered van was set on fire in Chauddagram’s Haidarpur area, leading to a sabotage case against Khaleda Zia and 32 others. Later, 10 more individuals were included in the charge sheet. In this case, too, no evidence of Khaleda Zia’s involvement was found, and Additional District and Sessions Judge First Court Judge Afroz Shiwli acquitted her.
District Public Prosecutor Kaimul Haque Rinku stated that the cases were filed with political motives during the Awami League government’s tenure. Following an application to the Law Ministry for withdrawal, the ministry directed the cases to be withdrawn. Currently, there are no cases against Khaleda Zia or central BNP leaders at Chauddagram Police Station.
