Four Dhaka courts yesterday rejected as many bail prayers of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman alias Shimul Biswas in separate arson cases filed with Pallabi, Kafrul, Badda and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

However, another Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court yesterday granted him bail in an arson case filed with Bhatara Police Station. All the five cases were filed in the first three months of 2015 for torching passengers' buses during the countrywide movement enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance.

Shimul, accused in over 98 criminal cases, was arrested in the capital on February 8 after a Dhaka court sentenced Khaleda to five years' imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Separate courts earlier issued arrest warrants against him in connection with 70 criminal cases filed in 2015. But, police did not arrest him even though he was discharging duties as Khaleda's special assistant when the warrants were issued.

Shimul was remanded for 15 days in three cases filed with Shahbagh and Paltan police stations. But, police are yet to take him on fresh 27-day remand in three other arson cases filed with Shahbagh, Paltan and Bangshal Police Station.