Law-&-Order
Senior BNP leaders have been arrested based on specific information: IGP
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said on Thursday that arrests of three senior opposition figures including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have been made based on specific information.
He came up with the remarks while responding to reporters about the arrests of the senior BNP leaders in sabotage cases. They could also be implicated in the case of killing a policeman during a massive rally on Saturday (September 28) at Nayapaltan in Dhaka. The IGP said that they would face charges if the ongoing investigation finds their involvement behind the provocation leading to the attack on the policeman who died at the scene.
After inaugurating the "Bangabandhu 2nd South Asia Sambo-Kurash Competition 2023" at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium in Dhaka’s Gulistan area, the IGP made the statement on Thursday.
“Killing and sabotage cases are under investigation…They (three BNP leaders) have been arrested in sabotage cases and will be shown arrested in the killing cases if information involving murder charges is found against them,” the official said.
Read: UN is useless, says Obaidul Quader
He said the police would continue to perform their duty despite attacks or threats.
“We won’t step back from performing our duty from those experiences, and we will carry out our responsibility with sincerity in the face of any provocation. We have such training and ability…the morale of every police personnel of Bangladesh is strong,” he asserted.
The IGP said police are ready to resist any ill attempts to destabilise the law and order situation of the country, and strict action would be taken against those committing such things.
Read: BNP to enforce fresh 48-hour countrywide blockade from Sunday
Talking about police support for a peaceful rally by the BNP, he said that sudden attacks were made on lives of people, property and police personnel, but later they brought the situation under control.
“We communicated with the BNP leaders at that time, but no one took initiatives. We investigated and arrested them (BNP leaders) based on specific information,” the IGP said.
Case filed against 224 people over lorry burnt in Ctg's Sitakunda
A case was filed accusing 224 people in connection with setting a rod-carrying lorry on fire, owned by Awami League lawmaker Didarul Alam, on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, on Wednesday night.
Of them, 24 were named as accused and the rest were unidentified individuals.
The burnt vehicle’s supervisor, Minar Uddin, filed the case with Sitakunda Model Police Station, confirmed Sub-inspector Faruk Hossain.
Read: 50 sued over torching, vandalizing vehicles in Ctg
He said they were conducting drives to arrest the accused involved with the fire incident.
Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, miscreants set a rod-carrying lorry on fire on the highway, on the second day of the countrywide blockade enforced by the BNP, Jamaat and likeminded opposition parties.
Read: Probe committee formed over torching 12 buses in Faridpur
The vehicle’s driver Md Ismail was injured and the engine of the lorry was burnt in the fire.
Locals said two youths riding a motorbike set the lorry on fire by hurling petrol bombs and left the scene immediately when the lorry was heading towards Dhaka from Chattogram.
On information, a firefighting unit from Sitakunda Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.
Read more: 4 more held over torching, vandalising buses in Rampura
Expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Papia granted bail for six months
The High Court (HC) on Wednesday granted six months of bail to expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for amassing wealth beyond her known sources of income.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Mohammad Ali passed the order.
Papia's lawyer said there is no legal bar for her to get released from jail.
Read: Opposition blockade: Clashes, vandalism, arson mark 2nd day
Advocates Rabiul Alam and Mohammad Hossain appeared for the bail petitioner while senior advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC.
Later, Advocate Rabiul Alam said Papia had earlier got bail in various cases, including a case filed under the Arms Act. There is no bar on her release as she has been granted bail in the case.
ACC advocate Khurshid Alam Khan said Papia's lawyer has sought bail on the grounds that she has been in jail for a long time.
“The ACC objected to the bail. After the hearing, the court granted her bail for six months,” he added.
Read: Court grants 8-day remand for ex-army official Chowdhury Sarwardy
Earlier, on February 23, 2020, Rab raided two flats belonging to Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon, a day after arresting them from Dhaka airport. Counterfeit notes and foreign currencies worth around Tk 2.5 lakh were seized from them during the drive. About Tk 58 lakh was recovered from the two flats on Indira Road in Dhaka belonging to the couple and a presidential suite at a five-star hotel in the capital. Apart from the lavish flats, Papia and her former Chhatra League leader husband own two more flats and two plots worth around Tk 2 crore in Narsingdi and a number of luxurious cars. Three cases were filed against them – two at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station under the Arms Act and the Special Powers Acts and another with Airport Police under the Special Powers Act-1974.
Read: Minibus carrying guests to wedding ceremony set on fire in Ctg On August 4, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed a case against Papia and her husband for embezzling Tk 6.24 crore.
On October 12, 2020, a Dhaka court sentenced Papia and Mofizur Rahman Sumon to 27 years imprisonment each in the arms case.
Miscreants set AL MP’s lorry on fire at Sitakunda
Miscreants on Wednesday afternoon set fire to a rod-laden lorry, owned by Awami League lawmaker Didarul Alam, on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Sitakunda end of the district on the second day of the countrywide blockaded enforced by the BNP-Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties.
The vehicle’s driver Md Ismail was injured and the engine of the 18-wheel lorry was burnt in the fire, said Didarul Alam, an elected MP from Sitakunda upazila-Mirsarai (partial) constituency.
He said the miscreants set fire to the vehicle while it was heading towards Dhaka from Chattogram in Panthichhila area of the upazila.
Locals said two youths riding on a motorbike set the lorry on fire by hurling petrol bombs and left the scene immediately.
Read: Opposition blockade: Clashes, vandalism, arson mark 2nd day
On information, a firefighting unit from Sitakunda Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.
Moreover, miscreants torched a vehicle and exploded cocktails in Kadamtali area under Kotwali police station of the port city of Chattogram amid the blockade.
Kotwali’s Officer-in-charge Jahidul Kabir said they detained a man named Towhidul Islam from the spot and recovered one crude cocktail and two petrol bombs.
A legal process was underway to file cases in this connection, he said.
In a statement, city chapter BNP claimed that their 20 leaders and activists were arrested by the police.
Read: DMP Commissioner seeks info from city residents about attackers
The law enforcers continued raids on the houses of the leaders and activists of the opposition parties and also their relatives’ houses, it reads.
Despite obstructions by the law enforcers, the party fellows observed the blockade for the second consecutive day on Wednesday in the city’s Kadamtali intersection, Agrabad Excess Road’s Boropol area and Chhetshwari Road.
Moreover, BNP men brought a torch procession in Boalkhai upazila on Wednesday evening in favour of the blockade.
Read more: Court grants 8-day remand for ex-army official Chowdhury Sarwardy
Opposition blockade: Clashes, vandalism, arson mark 2nd day
The second day of the countrywide three-day blockade, enforced by the BNP and theJamaat and like-minded opposition parties, was marked by clashes, vandalism and torching of vehicles in Dhaka and elsewhere on Wednesday.
Law enforcers detained more than 100 leaders and activists of the BNP and other opposition parties across the country on the second day of the road, rail and waterways blockade.
The blockade that started at 6am on Tuesday will end at 6 pm on Thursday.
At least 21 incidents of arson were reported across Bangladesh in 24 hours till Wednesday evening during the blockade.
Sources at the media cell of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters said that they got information about 21 arson attacks across the country on Wednesday.
Among the arson attacks, five occurred in Dhaka city, seven in Dhaka division (Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj), four each in Chattogram (Karnaphuli, Rangunia, Sitakunda) and Rajshahi (Bogura, Sirajganj) and Rangpur divisions.
Ten buses, three covered vans, three trucks, one pickup, one motorcycle, two commercial goods showrooms and one police box were burnt across the country.
Movement of intra-district and long-route buses was very low but the presence of local vehicles like three-wheelers was noticeable in the capital and other cities and towns.
The gathering of people on the streets was also thin compared to the normal days.
The opposition leaders and activists were seen picketing on different roads across the country, including in the capital, to enforce the blockade. They also engaged in clashes with the law enforcers in different districts, including Dhaka, Bogura, Feni and Sylhet.
In Dhaka, miscreants tried to set a vehicle on fire around 8 am in Malibagh Chowdhurypara but police chased them away.
Read: Opposition blockade: 21 arson attacks reported across country since Tuesday, says Fire Service
Miscreants set a passenger bus of "Itihash Paribahan" on fire beside the Kafrul Police Station on Wednesday afternoon, said Kafrul Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Farukul Alam.
Miscreants set a bus on fire in front of Ideal School in Dhaka’s Mugda area today (November 01, 2023) during the blockade, said fire service sources.
Picketers from a procession in support of the blockade set the bus on fire around 10:55 am, creating panic in the area.
Lima Khanam, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.
Miscreants set a bus and truck on fire in separate incidents in Chattogram district.
Zahedur Rahman, duty officer of Rangunia Fire Service and Civil Defence, said miscreants set a truck on fire on Chattogram-Kaptai Road in Rangunia upazila in the morning.
Police detained a man with a crude bomb from the Kadamtali area under Kotwali police station in the port city of Chattogram in the afternoon.
In Sylhet, supporters of BNP’s youth and student wings Jubo and Chhatra Dal and Jamaat-Shibir men clashed with Awami League’s voluntary and student bodies Swechasebak League and Chhatra League in Bandarbazar area at 11:00am. Six Chhatra Dal men were detained from the spot.
At the same time, supporters of BNP and Chhatra Dal took a position on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, disrupting traffic movement for a while.
Read: Day 2 of blockade: Bus and truck set on fire in Ctg
In Barishal, police detained 11 BNP men including two former lawmakers centering the blockade on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Chhatra Dal brought out a procession in favour of the blockade on Banda Road in Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and burnt tyres in the morning.
Though some long-route buses left the city, authorities concerned cancelled their trips due to the shortage of passengers later.
At vulnerable spots, law enforcers were seen patrolling in the city since the morning.
In Khulna, the second day of the blockade was observed peacefully. No incidents of vandalism, arson and chase and counter-chase were reported.
The presence of people on the city streets was lower than any other day.
In Rangpur, a peaceful blockade was marked as no reports of unexpected incidents were found.
In Bogura, supporters of the blockade clashed with the law enforcers, vandalised and torched vehicles in the district.
Read more: Picketers in support of blockade set bus set on fire in Dhaka's Mugda
The law enforcers used tear shells to disperse the picketers whenever the supporters tried to put barricades on the roads.
At least six BNP men sustained injuries when police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel opened rubber bullets and used tear shells in the Tinmatha Railgate area in the district town around 10am.
District chapter Chhatra Dal President Saidul Islam alleged that police suddenly fired on them when they were peacefully staying in the railgate area.
Three covered vans and a microbus were torched in the district during the enforcement of the blockade.
In Mymensingh, 46 BNP men were detained from several upazilas of the district centering the blockade.
With this, police detained 153 BNP-Jamaat men over the past three days in the district.
A case under the subversive act was filed against 145 BNP men including its central organizing secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince with Kotwali police station.
In Feni, two intra-district buses were torched in the Rampur area on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. Patrolling by the law enforcers was noticeable.
DMP Commissioner seeks info from city residents about attackers
Dhaka Metropolitan Police(DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman on Wednesday called upon the city dwellers to give information and hand over the perpetrators who harm people's lives and property in the name of movement.
He also said that the ongoing blockade programme is against the constitution and the people as it is against the prevailing laws of the land to obstruct public traffic.
Those who are involved in the blockade in the name of political agenda will be arrested and brought to justice, said the commissioner.
Read: Jamaat will not get permission to hold rally on Oct 28: DMP official
He made the remarks in response to the questions asked by journalists after a courtesy meeting with the executive committee of Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) in the afternoon.
During the meeting, the DMP's top officer mentioned the launch of two mobile numbers on an experimental basis--"Message to Commissioner" saying that the city residents can send messages and report about their problems on WhatsApp to these two numbers: 01320202020 and 1032101010.
Read: Fakhrul brought to DB office for questioning: DMP Commissioner
When asked about the October 28 violence centering the BNP's grand rally at Nayapaltan, the DMP chief said that the attack on the police, the manner in which the police member was killed, no matter how strong the responsible are, they will be arrested to bring them under justice."The police will arrest them. For this, the police are collecting and analysing CCTV footage, video footage," the DMP Commissioner added.
"We have already arrested many people. They are being interrogated. Based on the information provided by them, more suspects will be arrested," he said.
CRAB President Mirza Mehdi Tamal thanked the Commissioner for maintaining cordial relations with the organisation. General Secretary Mamunur Rashid also thanked the Commissioner for inquiring about the injured journalists on October 28.
Members of the CRAB's executive committee and senior officials of the DMP headquarters were also present on the occasion.
Court grants 8-day remand for ex-army official Chowdhury Sarwardy
A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed Lt. Gen. (retd) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy on an eight-day remand in a case over cheating people with a false identity.
He allegedly brought one Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who posed as an adviser to US President Biden, to the BNP's central office on Saturday to talk to the media in favour of the BNP.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shafi Uddin granted the remand after rejecting his bail petition.
The court granted the remand after hearing both sides, said defence counsel Joynal Abedin Mesbah.
Reaed: Hasan Sarwardy, who brought so-called ‘adviser to Biden’ Arefy to BNP office, arrested
Earlier, the investigation officer of the case and inspector of the Detective Branch (DB) Jamal Uddin Mir produced the defendant before the court with a prayer for a 10-day remand.
The DB on Tuesday arrested the former army official from Savar on the outskirts of the capital.
A DB team led by its chief Harun-or-Rashid conducted a drive in Savar area and arrested him in the case filed with Paltan Police Station.
A person named Mahiuddin Shikdar, who hails from Gopalganj, filed the case bringing the allegations of cheating people with a false identity on Sunday night.
Read: US Embassy seeks consular access regarding so-called ‘adviser to the US president’ Mian Arefy
On Monday, Arefy, a self-proclaimed adviser to US President Joe Biden, at the DB office said that Sarwardy brought him to the BNP party office at 3 pm to discuss their programme. They requested him to deliver a speech.
Arefy was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday and now being interrogated.
On Saturday, Arefy visited the BNP central office in Naya Paltan and presented himself as an "adviser to US President Biden" when speaking to reporters.
Read more: ‘Said what I was asked to say at BNP office’: So-called ‘Biden’s adviser’ Arefy at DB Office
Court grants 5-day remand for Mirza Abbas in sabotage case
A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed BNP’s Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas on a five-day remand in a case involving sabotage and attempts to snatch away pistols from the law enforcers during clashes on October 28 in Dhaka.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shafi Uddin granted the remand after rejecting his bail petition.
The court granted the remand after hearing both sides, said Shah Alam, sub-inspector of Shahjahanpur police station’s general registration section in the court.
Read: Rizvi condemns arrests of Abbas and Alal
Earlier, the investigation officer of the court produced him before the court with a prayer for a five-day remand.
Lawyers Mohsin Miah, Mosleh Uddin, Jasim, Omar Faruk Faruki, Golam Mostafa stood for the BNP leader in the court while Abdullah Abu represented the state.
Mustafizur Rahman, sub-inspector of Shahjahanpur police station, filed the case making Mirza Abbas as the prime suspect on October 29.
Read: BNP leaders Abbas, Alal arrested
Forty-nine BNP men were identified as suspects while involvement of 700-800 unidentified individuals have been mentioned in the case.
Police and the BNP supporters clashed in some parts of Dhaka involving the party’s scheduled grand rally on October 28.
Read more: Arrest warrant issued against BNP leader Mirza Abbas
Minibus carrying guests to wedding ceremony set on fire in Ctg
A minibus was set on fire in Chattogram city on Monday night.
The incident happened in front of a community centre in Garibullah Shah Majar area adjacent to Dampara Police Lines in the city around 9:45 pm on Monday.
Bus set on fire in Gazipur
No one was injured in the incident.
Two fire service units were working to douse the fire at the time of filing this report.
Banglamotor bus fire tamed after more than 30 minutes
Confirming the incident, Rubel Hawlader, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khulshi Police Station, said miscreants set fire to a minibus standing on the road.
“We are trying to ascertain the identity of those involved in the incident,” he said.
Bus set on fire in Manikganj during hartal
Locals said the bus arrived at the community centre in the Garibullah Shah Majar area with the guests of a wedding ceremony.
Sylhet hartal clashes: 539 BNP-Jamaat activists sued in 5 cases
Five cases have been filed in Sylhet against 539 BNP-Jamaat activists for attacking police, vandalising vehicles and blocking roads during the hartal on Sunday.
As many as 69 people have been named and at least 470 unnamed others have been named as accused in the cases.
Violence marks BNP’s daylong hartal; 3 killed
Among the cases, one was filed at Airport Police Station, one at Jalalabad Police Station, one at Dakshin Surma Police Station and two at Kotwali Model Police Station, said police.
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Ali Mahmud confirmed the matter.
“Two cases were registered on Sunday night. As many as 300 unnamed people have been accused in the two cases. Seven BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists arrested during the strike have been shown arrested in these two cases, said the OC.
Sylhet was rocked by the strike that BNP-Jamaat called over one-point demand of fall of the government. During the strike, there were sporadic chases with picketers, crude bomb explosions and vandalism of vehicles.
Some 540 BNP-Jamaat supporters detained across the country during hartal
Five policemen were injured while trying to disperse the picketers. During the strike, police detained seven leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat from different places.
On Sunday, 180 rounds of shotgun shells, one teargas and 15 sound grenades were fired in different parts of the city to disperse the protesters.
Daylong hartal marked by clashes, vandalism, and chase –counter chase in Bogura