Rony planned to besiege police station, cops say

Police intelligence yesterday claimed to have uncovered a plan by Golam Maula Rony, the BNP-nominated candidate for Patuakhali-3 constituency, to besiege a police station to create a situation for his “political advantage” ahead of the December 30 polls.

“It is an opportunity for us,” a senior police detective familiar with the uncovering of the plan, quoted Rony as saying in a telephone conversation with a follower, after the reported attack on a car carrying his wife.

The conversation was leaked to the internet, where Rony was heard saying “Make phone calls everywhere, and besiege the police station rallying thousands of people.” Talking to the news agency, the official said police intercepted the call suspecting a possible attack on Patuakhali's Galachipa police station.

Rony was also heard directing his followers to continue to besiege the police station until the police was forced to record the case in line with their demand.

Rony asked the activist to accuse his rival Awami League candidate and another 100 ruling party activists in the case, making his wife the complainant.

Rony's telephone conversation was unveiled two days after the car carrying his wife Kamrunnahar Runo was reportedly attacked during an election campaign.