Three BCL men awarded

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday rewarded three Chhatra League leaders with Tk 50,000 for catching a Chhatra Dal leader who were fleeing after blasting crude bombs in Bakshibazar on January 7.

A rickshaw puller was also given Tk 1 lakh for helping police arrest another person who blasted bombs near the capital's Kataban Baitul Aman mosque on Monday night.

The three BCL leaders are Nahian Khan Joy, general secretary of Dhaka University's Jahurul Haq Hall BCL, Ruhul Amin, general secretary of AF Rahman Hall unit, and Yeaz-al-Riad, general secretary of Bangabandhu Hall unit. 

On the evening of January 7, they saw Raju Ahmed Raj and his friend Saddam, both DU unit JCD leaders, on a rickshaw in Bakshibazar area, Riad said.

The BCL men wanted to catch them but they tried to flee, blasting three crude bombs. They, however, captured Raju and handed him over to the police, while Saddam fled.

Of the three BCL leaders, Joy had actively taken part in an attack on BNP men in Bakshibazar in the city on December 25 last year.

The Daily Star withholds the rickshaw puller's name for his safety.

Earlier on January 26, Rab rewarded five people who caught and beat three arson attackers in Narayanganj.

The Rab announcement for cash reward came on January 24.

A day after suspected blockaders torched a bus at Jatrabari on January 23, the police headquarters announced Tk 5 lakh cash bounty for information about the attackers.

In a separate move, the police announced cash reward of Tk 1 lakh for giving information about those who attacked a bus in Comilla on the night of February 3.

No one came forward with any information, but two suspected attackers were subsequently killed in police “shootouts”.

At the reward giving ceremony at the DMP media centre, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia claimed they handed money to 11 more people, but gave no details.

He said 186 people have been arrested over arson attacks so far -- 102 BNP men and the rest Jamaat men -- from the capital.