A Chittagong court has rejected two bail petitions of Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, an advisor to the BNP chairperson. The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Mashfiqul Islam also rejected two remand petitions against Nasir and sent him to jail on Friday. During the day’s proceedings, the police produced Mir Nasir, arrested in two separate cases filed with the Kotowali and Chalkbazar police stations in the port city, at the court and sought a five-day remand against him in each case. On the other hand, the defence counsel filed petitions in both the cases seeking bail for Mir Nasir. After a short hearing in the case filed with the Kotowali police station, the court rejected the remand petition against the accused and granted him bail.
However, while hearing the case filed with the Chalkbazar police station, the court rejected both the bail and the remand prayers and sent Mir Nasir to jail.
Pro-BNP-Jamaat lawyers started demonstrating in the court premises right after the denial of bail to Mir Nasir.
The police arrested Mir Nasir from Shah Amanat International Airport in the port city on Thursday night.
The BNP leader was shown arrested in two cases filed with the Kotowali and Chalkbazar police stations in connection to arson attacks on two vehicles at Kazir Dewri and Chatteshawri area in the city during the opposition enforced blockade hours on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Chittagong unit of the BNP called a dawn-to-dusk strike in the district for Sunday protesting the arrest and harassment of Mir Nasir, and other party leaders and activists during the 71- hour countrywide blockade.
BNP central Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman announced the shutdown on Friday. Noman also condemned the arrests of Mir Nasir and other party leaders and demanded their immediate release.
“I am declaring this programme in protest against the arrests and harassment of BNP leaders and activists and demand their immediate release. I urge the government to stop attacks and torture on the opposition activists,” said Noman.
-With The Independent input
