21 BNP men arrested in Narayanganj

Police arrested 21 leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies in Narayanganj in connection with sabotage cases filed in the last two days.

Six people were arrested from Narayanganj Sadar, one from Araihazar, five from Rupganj, four from Siddhirganj, and six from Sonargaon between Friday night and yesterday evening, said police officials.

The leaders of Narayanganj district unit BNP claimed that their men were being arrested in several "ghost cases" ahead of BNP's December 10 rally.

A total of 10 cases were filed under the Explosive Substances Act with seven police stations in the district from November 17 to December 1 where over 700 leaders and activists of BNP, Jamaat, Nagorik Oikya and Gono Odhikar Parishad were made accused, said sources.

Mamun Mahmud, first joint convener of Narayanganj district unit BNP, said the party men were being arrested so that they cannot join the December 10 rally in Dhaka.

Contacted, Md Amir Khasru, additional superintendent of police (crime ‍and operations) in Narayanganj, said, "Police so far arrested more than 50 BNP leaders and activists and its associate bodies."

The district court sent them to jail after they were produced before it, he added.