Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia and three others in a case on Monday were charged with instigating arson attacks and killing 42 people.

The three other accused are BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mian, adviser to the chairperson Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury and Professor Emajuddin Ahmed.

Jananetri Parishad president AB Siddiqui filed the case with the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Atikur Rahman’s court.

After hearing the statement of the petitioner, the court ordered the Gulshan police officer in-charge to take up an investigation into the allegation.

It was mentioned by the petitioner that 42 people succumbed to their injuries in arson attacks while the government incurred losses of crores of money because of the violence solicited by Khaleda Zia during the blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance from January 5 to February 1.