‘Militants meet at Press Club’

The National Press Club and the High Court have been used as a ‘political shield’ by a group, Dhaka Metrpolitan Police Commissioner Benazir Ahmed has said.

Police have also the information of a ‘militant group’s’ meeting at the Press Club, he told a press conference at the media centre at Mintoo road. The press conference was convened to brief the media about the law-and-order situation in the capital at the dawn of a new year.

Ruling Awami League members clashed with BNP-Jamaat-backed journalists at the press club and with BNP-backed lawyers at the Supreme Court amid the Opposition’s movement on Sunday.

Police had entered the High Court premises on Sunday with appropriate authorities’ permission, Benazir said on Monday.

“In the guise of lawyers, even outsiders and party cadres were present inside the court premises.”

File Photo

The city police chief urged the authorities of the apex court to form a committee to look into the Sunday’s incident.

When asked about blocking the road in front of BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s house, he, however, did not make any comment.

He advised the city dwellers to celebrate the New Year indoors along with their families.

Special security arrangements will be put in place at Gulshan’ Banani, Baridhar and Dhaka University in the city.

“Citizens are being discouraged to move through these areas after 8pm on Tuesday.”

Only Kamal Ataturk Avenue (Kakoli Crossing) could be used to enter Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara with vehicles from 8pm on Dec 31 to 5am on Jan 1, he said.

Besides this, High Court-Doel Chattar, Shaheed Minar and Jagannath Hall’s southern gate-Palasssey crossing routes can be used for entering Dhaka University.