The High Court yesterday granted anticipatory bail to six pro-BNP lawyers including BNP Vice-Chairman Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain in 11 separate criminal cases.

The five others are: Advocate Abdur Rezak Khan, Barrister Aminul Haque, Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Advocate Sanaullah Mia, and Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker.

The cases were filed with Khilgaon, Motijheel, Mirpur and Paltan police stations on charges of preventing police from discharging duty, blasting explosives, and holding illegal gatherings at different places in Dhaka -- all of them surrounding a human chain for Khaleda Zia's release on September 11.

The HC bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Mohammad Ali granted them anticipatory bail till submission of charge sheets of the cases by police to the trial courts concerned.

The bail orders were passed by the HC bench, following separate bail petitions filed by the accused lawyers.

They appeared before the bench for bail, Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, one of the petitioners, told The Daily Star. Barrister Moudud Ahmed appeared for the accused.