Police round up Opposition supporters

Police have detained over 180 leaders and activists of the BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami from various parts of the country while they were on their way to attend the Opposition’s rally in Dhaka on Sunday.

Over 100 Jamaat supporters were detained in Tangail, 20 BNP supporters were arrested from Savar area, on the outskirts of the capital, and 61 activists of both parties were taken into custody in Chittagong, police said.

Tangail Sadar Model Police Station OC Nazrul Islam said the Jamaat activists were nabbed between Friday evening and Saturday morning from Dhaka-bound buses and trains in Tangail.

The buses and trains were coming to Dhaka via Tangail from northern districts such as Lalmonirhat and Rajshahi.

Islam said the suspects were picked up because police apprehend they would create trouble in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, police arrested 20 leaders and activists of BNP affiliated organisations from Ashulia and Dhamrai areas at Savar, a day before the 18-Party alliance’s march to Dhaka ‘for democracy’ and rally at Naya Paltan.

They were arrested during separate raids conducted between Friday night and Saturday morning for their suspected involvement in planning sabotage, said Savar Model Police Station OC Mostofa Kamal.

Some of them were also accused in several cases filed over vandalism, arson and crude bomb blasts during the Opposition’s recent blockades, he added.

Police have also set up check-posts at many places on Dhaka-Aricha highway since Friday night. They were checking any Dhaka-bound vehicle or anyone they might find suspicious.

Apart from police, the army and BGB were also seen patrolling this highway on Saturday morning.

The security checkpoints were set up at Aminbazar, Radio Colony, Hemayetpur, Singair Bridge, Islampur, Kalampur and Nabinagar bus stand, OC Mostofa Kamal said.

Ashulia Police Station OC Sheikh Badrul Alam said check-posts were also established on Dhaka-Tangail highway’s Jirani bus stand, Baipail, JIrab and Ashulia bazar areas.

In Chittagong, the law enforcers in an overnight drive, nabbed 61 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat ahead of the Opposition’s march to Dhaka.

The detentions were made during several raids conducted at various areas of the port city on Friday night, Chittagong Metropolitan Police’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (west zone) SM Tanvir Arafat told bdnews24.com.

 

The city areas include – Akbar Shah housing society, Doublemooring, Pahartoli, Halishahor and Kotwali. Some of the Opposition supporters were also detained from Sitakunda Upzila’s Kumira and Barabkunda areas and Lohagarha Upazila.

The BNP-led 18-Party alliance had announced to hold a rally in front of the party's Naya Paltan headquarters. The party has urged all to attend it after a 'march for democracy' to resist the Jan 5 polls.

But police have not given permission for the rally on the ground that Jamaat and its student wing might indulge in acts of sabotage under cover of the event.

Law enforcement agencies have launched a crackdown on the Opposition activists across the country since the announcement of the Dhaka march and the rally.