Bangladesh Opposition leader Khaleda Zia could be tried for the killings of about 30 people during the recent anti-Government protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said. “It will be logical to bring her (Zia) under the purview of law...For giving order of the killings,” Hasina told Parliament last night.
“law-enforcing agencies are examining the possibility of putting her (Zia) on trial...law will take its own course and it is up to agencies enforcing the law to check this out and take necessary action. I will leave it at that.”
The violence sparked by the non-stop nationwide blockade enforced by 69-year-old Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) since January 6 has claimed at least 30 lives so far. The premier’s comments came as law enforcement agencies detained 2,500 suspected arsonists in the last 16 days and announced Tk 100,000 ($1,286) bounty on each person involved in the latest clash between Bangladesh’s two main, long-feuding political factions.