Police checking pedestrians’ phones on day of BNP procession

Police in at least two areas of the capital today were seen going through pedestrians' phones in the hours leading up to BNP's mass procession.

Pedestrians were also searched and interrogated at the National Press Club, Matsya Bhaban and some other police check posts after Juma prayers.

The BNP's procession started from the party's Nayapaltan office around 3:00pm.

While visiting the National Press Club area, a photographer of this newspaper found police officials randomly stopping people and interrogating them.

The photographer heard law enforcers ask the pedestrians several questions, including their identities, their destinations, the purpose of their journeys and whether they would join the procession.

Law enforcers forcibly took away pedestrians' mobile phones and were seen looking through the devices.

While visiting Matsya Bhaban area, a photographer also saw a group of people waiting beside a police check post. It was later learnt that police were checking their mobile phones one by one, and kept several others waiting for interrogation.

The photographer overheard a police official asking a pedestrian who certain numbers belonged to, while looking through the latter's phone. The official also dialled the pedestrian's last-dialled number.

A police officer was even seen slapping a pedestrian who insisted that the officer let him go.

Khandker Golam Faruq, DMP Commissioner, denied allegations that police searched people's mobile phones.

He said, "We didn't issue any such directives to look into mobile phones."

"BNP has permission to hold the procession, so they held it," he added.

On December 10, on the day of BNP's mass rally, law enforcers had stopped people and looked into their phones in most entry points of Dhaka city.