Rajshahi BNP alleges police excess
Leaders and activists of BNP have accused law enforcers of harassing them, ahead of the party's rally on December 3 in Rajshahi's eight districts.
However, police officials have refuted the allegations, saying that they are arresting those who are accused in criminal cases and are involved in criminal activities.
Plain-clothed detectives arrested Nadim Mustafa, a former BNP lawmaker, from his Pathan Para house in Rajshahi city yesterday morning, after an arrest warrant was issued in connection with a 2015 murder case.
Police said the warrant was issued in August, as Nadim failed to comply with a High Court order to surrender before a lower court after his six-month anticipatory bail expired.
"He had been absconding for a long time. But we learnt that he returned home for the rally," said Mazharul Islam, officer-in-charge of Boalia police station.
Other than Nadim, at least 33 BNP leaders and activists have been arrested in Rajshahi, Joypurhat, Bogura, Naogaon, and Natore since November 15.
Around 1,000 BNP leaders and activists have also been accused in 21 new cases, filed under special powers act and explosives act, in Sirajganj and five other districts.
Bogura district BNP in a press conference on Monday said police have filed at least six cases against their members with Bogura Sadar, Dupchanchia, Kahalu, Nandigram, Shajahanpur and Sherpur police stations.
Some 655 leaders and activists have been accused in those cases, and 17 BNP men have been arrested.
On Monday night, police arrested BNP activist Ohab Mondol from Natore Sadar, suspecting his role in an explosives-related case.
Earlier, police recovered eight abandoned crude bombs from Dangapara area in the upazila.
On Monday night, Ershad Ali, joint convener of Mohadebpur Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal, was arrested after he and 24 others were sued in an explosives-related case.
In Rajshahi, one case each has been filed with Mohonpur, Godagari, Bagmara, Puthia, Durgapur, and Bagha police stations since November 15.
On Monday night, Puthia BNP's former vice president Khorsedul Alam was arrested in one of those cases.
BNP chairperson's adviser Mizanur Rahman Minu said, "Some police officials are harassing BNP activists. But they are making a mistake. The more obstacles they create, the stronger the resistance will get."
Contacted, Rajshahi district police spokesperson ASP Iftekhayer Alam said, "Police are not harassing anyone in any way. The cases are being file and the arrests are being made in context of specific crimes. Police are arresting only those who are involved in those crimes."
On Saturday night, police recovered a sack of six cocktail bombs from a bush in front of BNP's Gopalpur municipality office in Natore's Lalpur upazila.
The office was later sealed off by police.
Farzana Sharmin Putul, a member of BNP's media cell, said, "The incident of recovering bombs was arranged. BNP members had nothing to do with it."
Earlier on Friday afternoon, two microbuses carrying Sirajganj district BNP president Rumana Mahmud were attacked during the distribution of leaflets for joining the rally.
Police raided the house of BNP activist Mohidul in Joypurhat Sadar upazila's Shantinagar on Sunday evening and arrested four BNP leaders for possessing explosives.
On Saturday night, eight BNP leaders were arrested on the same charge in Panchbibi of Joypurhat, and 20 BNP leaders and activists were accused in one explosives case.
"We think a transport strike will also be enforced in Rajshahi ahead of the rally, like in other divisions. But our demands will only reach more people with all the obstacles," said Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, BNP's Rajshahi divisional organising secretary.
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