Bangladesh News

Over 200 people including 33 district and upazila level top leaders of Awami League, BNP and their front organisations, municipality and union parishad chairmen and transport leaders were arrested as of yesterday during a sudden crackdown by the joint forces starting Friday midnight.

Of the arrestees, 140 were held in the capital alone as the joint drive coincided with a special drive by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to recover illegal firearms and arrest professional killers, criminals, drug peddlers and robbers.

Forty-one persons including the 33 political leaders and activists were arrested outside Dhaka. The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) also arrested 23 persons during the drive across the country.

The political leaders and workers were arrested under section 16(2) of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR), police said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad said the drive is aimed at arresting only those against whom there are specific allegations of criminal activities, those who are on the police list of criminals and those against whom there are arrest warrants.

“None other than these people have been arrested and there is no question of arresting and harassing any political person,” the IGP said.

He said they have already ordered the authorities concerned to mount vigil at all land and airports so that no criminal can flee the country.

The crackdown began days after the Awami League (AL) threatened with disobeying the law and BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain with street movements if their chiefs are not released soon.

Sources close to the police high-ups gave hints that more arrests are in the offing to ward off any sort of violence.

Our correspondent in Khulna reports: The joint forces held six persons in the city, one in Bagerhat, seven in Jessore and six in Narail during the pre-dawn raids.

The persons arrested in Khulna city are AL ward-23 President Biren Ghosh, AL ward-16 Secretary Bulu Biswas, Jatiya Party (JP) leaders Moniruzzaman Elu, Zahidur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam and Imran Khan.

They were sent to Khulna District Jail after being shown arrested under section 16(2) of the EPR, police said.

District AL Organising Secretary Nakib Najibul Huq Nazu was arrested in Bagerhat.

The arrestees in Jessore are sadar upazila AL President Mohit Nath, Jhikorgachha upazila BNP President Jalaluddin Ahmed, Jhikorgachha Municipality Chairman Mostafa Anowar Pasha, Chowgachha upazila BNP Secretary Jahurul Islam, Manirampur upazila BNP General Secretary Mashiur Rahman, JP Convenor of the same upazila Advocate Kamruzzaman and Uloshi Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Shahidul Islam.

In Narail, the joint forces arrested municipality Chairman and district AL Joint Secretary Advocate Sohrab Hossain Biswas, district BNP General Secretary Abdul Kader Sikder, municipality AL General Secretary and Ward Commissioner Khandakar Mansur Billah, BNP leader Mostafa Kamal Mosto, Jubo League General Secretary Alamgir Hossain Alam and Jubo League activist Sari Biswas.

Our Chapainawabganj correspondent reports: The joint forces arrested seven political leaders, including a municipality chairman, from five upazilas during the crackdown.

They are Rahanpur Municipality Chairman and Gomostapur upazila AL Secretary Golam Mostofa Biswas, district Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal General Secretary Nasir Ali, Jamaat-e-Islami President of ward-2 of Chapainawabganj Municipality Ayub Ali, Bholahat upazila AL President Wazed Ali, former president of Bholahat upazila BNP Aziz Layek, former UP chairman of Nachole and BNP activist Mojidul Hoque and Shibganj upazila BNP activist Shakil Reza.

Sources in the political parties and families said the joint forces also raided the residences of Gomostapur upazila BNP General Secretary Md Tarek and BNP activist Ashraful Haque, district Krishak League President Abdul Wadud, former chairman of Shibganj municipality and municipality BNP unit General Secretary Shamim Kabir Halim and district BNP Organising Secretary Amir Hossain but could not arrest them as they were not at their houses.

Chapainawabganj Superintendent of Police (SP) SM Mahfuzul Hoque Nuruzzaman said the joint forces arrested the political leaders and activists under the EPR.

Our Jhenidah correspondent reports: the joint forces arrested Jhenidah district Swechchasebak League Joint Secretary Saidul Karim Mintu and Kaliganj upazila Shramik Dal President Anwarul Islam Babu from their houses.

Five people including transport workers’ leader Abul Kalam and District Chhatra league (BCL) General Secretary Asaduzzaman Lithu were held in Satkhira early yesterday, reported our Satkhira correspondent.

The other arrestees are Ataur Rahman Nantu of Puratan Satkhira, Amjad Hossain of Alipur and Akbar Ali of Kuchpukur village.

Our Magura correspondent reports: joint forces held Magura district Bus Owners’ Association President and former joint secretary of Jubo League district unit Mir Abu Shahid and his younger brother Mir Abul Kalam from their residence early yesterday.

Police said the two are listed criminals and have been accused in seven cases filed with the Magura Police Station.

Earlier, joint forces arrested Shahid with a firearm and 40 bottles of phensidyl in February 2007.

Our correspondent in Rangpur reports: joint forces arrested Sports Secretary of Jubo Dal district unit Kamal Hossain and former president of Rangpur Motor Shramik Union Shajahan Mojumder from their residences on Friday night.

Police said several cases were filed against Kamal and Shajahan on different charges including extortion and possessing illegal arms.

Our staff correspondent in Rajshahi adds: Joint forces held four persons including two grassroots politicians and a Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militant at Godagari upazila in Rajshahi yesterday.

District Krishak League Vice President and former panel chairman of Godagari municipality Wayej Uddin Biswas was arrested from his Sarengpur residence while ex-president of Awami League Gogram union Subhas Chandra Murari was detained at a market.

JMB member Minarul Islam was arrested at Machhmara in Godagari while suspected terrorist Marshal was held at Laxmipur.