Khaleda Verdict: At least 130 held over protest

At least 130 Jatiya Oikyafront, BNP and Jamaat-Shibir leaders and activists have been arrested across the country in last two days since Tuesday in connection with protests against the verdict in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

In Dhaka, around 20 BNP men including Sramik Dal president Anwar Hossain was arrested soon after end of a human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, BNP Assistant Organising Secretary Abdus Salam Azad told UNB.

Several hundred leaders and activists attended the programme to protest against conviction of Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the corruption case, he added.

The arrestees include Dhaka north city unit organising secretary Farroque Hossain, and leaders Amir Hossain, Ripon, Mahbubur Rahman Dipu and Mostak Sarker, Azad said, adding, the arrestees were taken to Ramna and Shahbagh police stations.

Maruf Hossain Sorder, deputy commissioner of Ramna Division Police, said police picked up seven to eight persons from Segun Bagicha area who were accused in different cases.

The OCs of both the police stations did not receive phone call for comments.

In Barishal, five BNP and its front organisation activists including district Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president Mahafuz Alam Khan Mithu were arrested in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall yesterday afternoon when they were going to attend a human chain programme.

In Sylhet, eight BNP leaders and activists including Jatiya Oikyafront's district coordinator Ali Ahmed were arrested while gathering for a procession at Central Shaheed Minar in Chowhatta in the city on Tuesday afternoon.

They were sent to jail yesterday afternoon.

Ali Ahmed is also the general secretary of district unit BNP.

Assistant Commissioner Golam Kawsar Dastagir of Kotwali police of Sylhet Metropolitan Police said a case was filed in this regard under section 25 (D) of Special Powers Act, 1974 and section 153 of the Penal Code, 1860.

Both the sections are for planning or gathering to commit a crime.

In Chattogram, detectives arrested Liakot Ali, chairman of Gondamara Union Parishad in Banshkhali and a local BNP leader, in Chattogram Railway Station area on Tuesday night.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammed Mohsin of Bandar police told The Daily Star, “He stands accused in two cases filed by Kotwali police for planning sabotage.”

In Jashore, police arrested 19 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Sharsha upazila yesterday morning.

Acting on a tip off, a team of police arrested them including Maolana Habibur Rahman, ameer of Jamaat's Sharsha unit, at his house in Baguri village in connection with sabotage cases, said Moshiur Rahman, OC of Sharsha police.

At least 74 leaders and activists of Nagorik Oikya, BNP and Jamaat-Shibir were arrested in different parts of the district yesterday on charges of sabotage, reports a Correspondent in Satkhira.

The arrestees include advocate Rabiul Islam, convener of District Nagorik Oikya.

(Our Correspondents from Chattogram, Sylhet, Barishal and Benapole contributed to the report).