Ex-Bangladesh PM Khaleda charged with 'instigating arson'

Dhaka: Bangladesh Police have registered a criminal case against former prime minister Khaleda Zia for "instigating arson" here that left 27 people seriously injured, the media reported Sunday.

Zia was booked over petrol bombs attack by suspected members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which she heads, on a passenger bus at Jatrabarhi area during the ongoing transport blockade, bdnews24.com reported.

Jatrabarhi police filed the case Saturday in which 18 BNP leaders, including Zia, stand accused of "conspiring and instigating" the bomb attack Friday.

The action came two days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned the BNP chief of tough action unless the blockade was withdrawn.