New Market clash: Shop owner and BNP leader Makbul arrested

Detective Branch of police have arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in connection with a case filed for obstructing police in discharging duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes between students of Dhaka College and traders in New Market area on April 18 and 19.

AKM Hafiz Akhter, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch, confirmed the development to The Daily Star this evening.

He said Makbul was arrested from his Dhanmondi home this afternoon (April 22, 2022) and later taken to DB office in Dhaka's Minto Road for questioning.

A total of four cases were registered accusing 24 named and at least 1,350 unnamed persons, including Makbul, over clashes between New Market area traders and Dhaka College students and deaths resulting from the violence.

Earlier on April 20, 2022, Yamin Kabir, inspector (investigation) of New Market Police Station, filed a case naming 24 persons including Makbul Hossain and former general secretary of BNP's New Market thana unit, Jahangir Hossain Patwari, for obstructing police in discharging duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes between students of Dhaka College and traders in New Market area where two persons were killed and scores of others wounded.

According to the case details, 200 to 300 unnamed accused, including Makbul, carried out attacks with sticks, rods and hockey sticks.

Makbul owns two shops in Dhaka New Market, from where the clash reportedly originated.