Bangladesh News

In around 24 hours after being released from jail, Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, an adviser to the BNP chairperson, was arrested again at 9:00 last night.

He was released on bail from Narayanganj Jail on Tuesday at 8:30pm as the High Court (HC) had granted a three-month interim bail to him.

Police arrived at his DOHS, Mohakhali residence at 8:35pm while leaders of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, women wing of BNP, were visiting him to greet him on his release from jail on Tuesday.

The police asked him to go with them as an extortion case was filed against him yesterday with Gazipur Police Station by an individual named Rashid Mollah for his alleged involvement in extortion that took place in 2006.

Hannan told the police that he did not know anyone by that name and requested a few minutes to be prepared. The police however did not allow him the time and took him along at 9:00pm on way to the Gazipur Police Station.

Hearing the news of his arrest, a number of BNP followers gathered in front his house and chanted slogans demanding his release.

Shah Riazul Hannan, son of Hannan, told journalists that his father was arrested on false allegations and the Hannan family would continue their legal battle to free him.

Earlier yesterday, Hannan held a meeting with Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the Khaleda Zia-appointed secretary general of BNP, in the capital to discuss party affairs.

However, the two leaders, after emerging from the closed-door meeting at Delwar’s Nam flat, did not disclose the topic of discussion.

“We have discussed organisational matters,” Hannan told journalists after the meeting that lasted around 45 minutes.

Hannan refused to make any further comment on party affairs and the unification process, saying that he was optimistic and he would speak with the media after further discussions with other leaders of the party.

Earlier, when Hannan arrived at the Delwar residence at 11:15am, he was greeted by a number of leaders and activists of BNP including Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan, Acting Office Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, former lawmakers Sohrab Uddin, Selim Reza Habib, Kazi Rafiqul Islam, former Chhatra Dal president Habib un Nabi Sohel.

BNP leaders said most of them want the party unified as soon as possible and they believe that the release of Hannan and the recent statements made by four senior members of the BNP standing committee would help the pro-Khaleda leaders gain the upper hand.

Although Delwar categorically said that the pro-Saifur faction must cancel its decision taken on October 29, Saifur Rahman said any strings attached to the unification effort would not be acceptable to his faction.

Four standing committee members — Dr RA Gani, Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, M Shamsul Islam and Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmad — in separate replies to a notice issued by the HC regarding the factional feud in BNP, said the October 29 meeting was not a meeting of the standing committee since only the party chairperson is empowered to call such meetings.

The HC had issued rule on the acting secretary general and six standing committee members following a writ petition filed by Khaleda-appointed Secretary General Delwar, challenging the Election Commission’s invitation to the Saifur-led faction of BNP to represent the party at electoral reforms dialogue with it.

Some leaders were hopeful that Hannan would take the initiative to unite the party as per the direction of detained party chief Khaleda through her attorney Mahbub Uddin Khokon.

On Sunday, the HC granted a three-month interim bail to former minister Hannan who had been detained in charge of violating emergency power rules.

He was arrested on November 7 in connection with violence near the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar where BNP followers had gathered to observe the National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

On January 30, the HC declared Hannan’s detention illegal and granted him bail. Fatulla police arrested him again on February 7 at the gate of Narayanganj Jail in connection with a separate case.

A police sub inspector had filed a general diary against him with Fatulla Police Station on charge of violation of emergency power rules as he allegedly attempted to hold a rally on Link Road. The HC issued the bail order after he appealed for cancellation of the case.