Dhaka, Mar 11 (UNB) – In a raid on BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Monday evening, police arrested 185 of its leaders and workers, including acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
The law enforcers launched the drive in the BNP office at about 6 pm after 8-10 crude bombs went off at about 5 pm in front of the BNP central office while Fakhrul was speaking at a party rally.
During the drive, police broke open the office of the BNP secretary general and also arrested top leaders like opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, Sadek Hossain Khoka, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, joint secretary general Amanullah Aman, joint secretary general Md Shajahan, DAB secretary general ZM Zahid, BNP’s assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Johnny and Mustafizur Rahman Babul.
Witnesses said police launched the drive after 8-10 crude bombs went off at about 5 pm in front of the BNP central office while Fakhrul was speaking at a scheduled rally. The drive continued till 8pm.
Talking to reporters during the arrest, Mirza Fakhrul said, “Now I’m on a High Court bail, I don’t know why they’ve arrested me. The government is fully responsible for this. They’ve foiled our rally with the help of their people.”
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was released from Kashimpur jail on February 5 as he secured bail in all six cases filed for vandalism and arson attacks during a countrywide road blockade enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance on December 9 last.
Sadek Hossain Khoka during the arrest said, “The present government, led by Razakar Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, turned the country into a police state. Our movement under the leadership of Khaleda Zia will continue.”
However, BNP women leaders and activists, including Selima Rahman, were driven out from the office, but no one of them was arrested.
Mehedi Hasan, additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Motijheel), told reporters that they arrested the BNP leaders and workers for deliberately creating an anarchic situation in the area. “They’ll be brought under the ambit of the law,” he added.
He said 10 crude bombs were seized from the BNP office during the drive.
Deputy Commissioner (Motijheel division) Sheikh Nazmul Alam said police showed much patience at first but when the opposition activists attacked the police and exploded crude bombs then they swung into action.
Meanwhile, the BNP-led 18-party called a countrywide daylong hartal for Tuesday protesting attacks on its ‘peaceful rally by police and the ruling party cadres’.
Source: UNBConnect
