Waiting for proof to arrest accused

Dhaka Metropolitan Police will arrest anyone if evidence proves his involvement in the Jatrabari arson attack.

DMP Commissioner Mohammad Asaduzzaman Miah told reporters yesterday in reply to a query about the arrest of the BNP chairperson whose name has appeared in two cases filed in connection with Friday's Jatrabari arson attack that left 28 people injured.

"Social status and position does not matter to us. Whoever is accused in any criminal case will be put on trial on the basis of proper investigation," he said at a press briefing on the current law and order situation in the capital at the DMP media centre.

Although the BNP chief's name does not come as an accused in the cases, the first information reports mention that those implicated and accused in cases carried out the attack following her instruction to enforce a countrywide blockade since January 6, police sources said.

Jatrabari police station filed the case against 68 people; of them, 18 top BNP and Jamaat leaders were implicated for planning the attack and 50 were accused of carrying it out, they added.

Police have started investigating the cases. Whether Khaleda will be arrested depends on the findings of the investigation, said the DMP boss.

"We have not said that the arrest cannot be made. We want to say that investigation is a continuous process and any arrest will be made on the basis of evidence found in the investigation," he said, replying to another question whether Khaleda would be arrested.

He said police so far had arrested a total of 633 people including 67 BNP men and 39 Jamaat-Shibir in connection with 149 cases filed with different police stations in the capital for subversive activities in the name of enforcing the blockade.

Some 67 people were caught red-handed during arson and bomb attacks. Mobile courts have jailed 28 people in different terms for their involvement in those attacks, he said. 

The commissioner also announced rewards ranging from Tk 25,000 to Tk 1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of any anarchists in the wake of violence amid the non-stop blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-Party alliance.

“Tk 1 lakh will be rewarded for helping police arrest arsonists or anarchists red-handed, Tk 50,000 for information on crude or petrol bomb throwers and Tk 25,000 for helping the arrest of those involved in making or storing bombs or explosives," the commissioner said, adding that identities of the informants would not be disclosed.

Meanwhile, Rab Director General Benazir Ahmed yesterday said the elite force had rewarded some people Tk 1 lakh who reportedly had caught three blockaders red-handed in Narayanganj and handed them over to law enforcers.

The Rab DG, however, did not disclose their identities due to their security.

He was talking to reporters in the capital's Gulistan intersection after launching a leaflet and sticker distribution campaign against petrol bomb and crude bomb attackers.