Goyeshwar on 3-day remand
A Dhaka court today placed BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy on a three-day remand over Bakshibazar violence.
Metropolitan Magistrate Yunus Khan passed the order after police produced the BNP leader before his court around 3:30pm with a 10-day remand prayer. He was earlier shown arrested in the case filed over the Bakshibazar violence.
Though initially police could not ascertain to the cause of his detention, later he was shown arrested in a Shahbagh police case of vandalism and arson and produced at court.
His arrest came ahead of the “high-tension rally” in Gazipur tomorrow, what BNP is determined to carry out amidst authority’s prohibitory measures and stand-off with the ruling party.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police detective wing Deputy Masudur Rahman said Goyeshwar was held from his Siddeshwari residence in Dhaka city around 6:00am.
A team of detectives raided Ayesha Complex, the residence of the BNP policymaker, and detained him, he said. “He is being kept under the custody of the detective branch.”
He was shown arrested in the Bakshibazar violence case, where 23 named and upto 60 anonymous others were accused, said Habil Hossain, an inspector (investigation) of Shahbagh Police Station.
A team of detectives raided Ayesha Complex, the residence of the BNP policymaker, and detained him, he said. “He is being kept under the custody of the detective branch.”
The detention comes a day after student fronts of ruling Awami League and BNP, Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, clashed at Bakshibazar during graft case hearing of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The attack left several injured including Netrokona-1 lawmaker Chhabi Biswas. The MP’s vehicle was torched by Chhatra Dal activists near the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Two cases were filed against BNP supporters over the clash, though there were identified Awami League men, armed with sticks and rods, who took part in the clash.
However, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy was not an accused in either of the cases.
Today, BNP said it will observe countrywide protest in condemnation of the “attack”.
Tomorrow, the BNP has a pre-announced rally in Gazipur to drum public support for, what the ruling Awami League has said will be thwarted with the use of force.
KHALEDA CONDEMNS ‘ARREST’
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia condemned the ‘arrest’ of Goyeshwar and other activists of the party and demanded their immediate release.
In a press statement issued hours after Goyeshwar’s detention, the BNP chief alleged that the government was on an “arrest spree” and used the police force to raid the houses of party leaders Abdul Awal Mintoo, Habibunnabi Khan Sohel and Azizul Bari Helal.
These were being done to divert people’s attention to a different direction, she alleged.
She also blamed the ruling party supporters for attack on BNP supporters and activists in Bakshibazar Wednesday.
The BNP along with the countrymen will ensure toppling the government if Goyeshwar is not released, Khaleda Zia warned in her statement.
GAZIPUR JUBO DAL VICE PRESIDENT, 8 OTHERS HELD
At least nine BNP activists, including Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal Gazipur chapter Vice President Bashir Ahmed, were detained last night ahead of the party’s rally there.
They were held from Tongi area, said Sajeda Lata, a sub-inspector of Tongi Police Station.
Meanwhile, police and district administration were expected to hold a closed-door meeting ahead of BNP’s rally in Gazipur.
Gazipur police Superintendent Harun-ur-Rashid and Deputy Commissioner Nurul Islam will attend the meeting, said Sajid Anwar, Nejrat Deputy Collector (NDC) of the district.
“The decision of the meeting will be announced later,” he said.
Meanwhile, pro-Awami League’s local Chhatra League, Sramik League and Shechwasebak League were holding a meeting at Gazipur Chourasta to “prepare” for tomorrow.
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