3 Patuakhali leaders held at protest rally

At least three BNP leaders were arrested in Patuakhali and processions allegedly barred by police in Narayanganj during demonstrations yesterday against charge sheets submitted on May 11 against Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 26 others in two cases centring arson attacks in Darussalam last year.

The protests were organised at district headquarters and metropolitan areas as per Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's announcement on Friday.

BNP will hold a rally in the capital's Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh today, with Dhaka Metropolitan Police's permission, ending its two-day agitation.

Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan office announced a 15-day programme schedule from May 20, including a discussion at the institution on May 31, marking BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's 35th death anniversary.

The late president was assassinated at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981 by a group of disgruntled army officers.

The three arrestees are Patuakhali district unit Organising Secretary Mojibur Rahman Toton, Youth Affairs Secretary Advocate Mozammel Hossain Tapon and Secretary for Small and Cottage Industry Affairs Abdul Latif.

Patuakhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge SM Tariqul Islam claimed that they were arrested for attempting sabotage.

Our correspondent from Chittagong, Feni, Rajshahi, Khulna, Bogra and Narayanganj reports that protest were held on a small scale amidst the presence of a few activists.