The tribunal has acquitted 173 leaders and activists, including BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, in an arson case of the capital's Ramna police station.
On Wednesday (January 8), Judge Shihabul Islam of Dhaka's Special Tribunal-16 gave the order after hearing the petition for acquittal.
The notable acquittals are BNP Vice Chairman Advocate Joynal Abedin, Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam, Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Organizing Secretary Shama Obaid, Joint Secretary General Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel and others.
On January 30, 2018, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was returning home after appearing in the special court set up at Alia Madrasa Ground on Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka. When she arrived in the Paribagh area under Shahbagh police station, BNP leaders and activists started shouting slogans on the streets. It is alleged that at one point, BNP leaders and activists attacked the police and got into a clash. On the same day, Police Sub-Inspector Md. Mohibullah filed a case with Ramna Model Police Station.
173 BNP leaders and activists, including Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, were accused in the charge sheet filed in the court on January 29, 2020.