Police detain 16 BNP men in city

Police yesterday detained 16 BNP leaders and activists when they were in a meeting at a commercial building at the capital's Banglamotor.

Maruf Hossain Sordar, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna zone), told The Daily Star that the BNP men were detained at Rupyan Tower in the area following a lead that they were holding a “clandestine” meeting.

However, according to BNP leaders, Dhaka South unit BNP organised the meeting yesterday afternoon to prepare for a movement demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia be freed, and to devise a party strategy for Gazipur and Khulna city corporation elections.

Senior Vice-Chairman of Dhaka South unit BNP M Shamshul Huda, its acting secretary general Habibur Rashid Habib, Vice-Chairman Md Yunus Mridha, Joint Secretary General Golam Hossain, and Organising Secretary Saiful Islam Patu are among the detainees, the BNP said.

In a press statement, the party leaders condemned the detention and demanded their immediate release.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the statement said the ruling party had the leaders detained to clear its path in the upcoming national elections and to establish a one-party rule.