'Police raided like robbers'

Khaleda Zia on Wednesday alleged police looted important documents and money from BNP’s Naya Paltan headquarters during the Mar 11 raid there.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 13 March 2013, 12:24 PM
Updated : 14 March 2013, 05:38 AM

The BNP Chairperson visited the party office at around 5:50pm, two days after the arrest of her party leaders from the office.

The BNP chief last visited the place on Apr 23, 2011.

Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Vice-Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka greeted Khaleda at her arrival.

She went to the Secretary General’s office on the second floor, the door of which was broken by police with a hammer on that day and later visited all the other affected rooms.

Broken chairs with party monogram were seen lying on the ground. The window glass of the room was also broken.

Khaleda then moved to another room where 60 party leaders and activists had taken refuge. She later went to the office secretary’s room where computers and documents were sctattered all over.

The party chief addressed her party leaders and activists after the visit.

”It seems it was a raid by robbers. Is it possible to vandalise a party headquarters in such a style?” she asked them.

The former Prime Minister described the police raid and vandalism as ‘pre-planned’ and added,” Police themselves kept the crude bombs there and then announced bombs were found in the BNP office. It is all staged. BNP practises politics for the people, it does not pursue the politics of bombing.”

She alleged police removed journalists on that day to stage what she said was nothing but a drama.

”Police looted money and important documents breaking our office doors. Such move prove they are no longer are friends of people,” she said.

She left at around 7:10pm for her Gulshan office where she holds meeting with senior leaders.

On Monday a rally by the BNP-led 18-party alliance at the city’s Naya Paltan area ended in chaos following explosions of several hand-made crude bombs there. Police made the raid at the office later .

More than 150 leaders and activists of BNP were arrested from there. Police seized 10 crude bombs from there during the drive.