Juba Dal chief Alal, 62 others sued for plotting sabotage

Police have sued BNP leader Moazzem Hossain Alal and 62 other leaders and activist of Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal for plotting sabotage during Sunday's general strike.

The Juba Dal chief and others were arrested from Alal's home in Dhaka's Lalmatia area earlier on Saturday.

Mohammadpur Police Station's Sub-Inspector Masud Shikdar lodged the case, the station's OC Azizul Haque told bdnews24.com later at night.

A group of Islamist organisations have called the strike for Sunday as their deadline for former telecoms minister Abdul Latif Siddique's arrest lapsed. They wanted him arrested by Oct 22.

Abdul Latif Siddique drew flak from various quarters after telling a New York programme on Sept 28 that he was averse to Hajj, Tabligh and Jamaat.

His anti-Hajj remarks also kicked off a wave of protests on the social media with many calling for his arrest and prosecution.

He was dropped from the Cabinet and the ruling Awami League, which initially sacked him from its policymaking Presidium, subsequently cancelled his party membership.

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BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is also supposed to appear before a court in two corruption cases on Sunday.

BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has condemned the police raid at Alal's house a day before Khaleda's appearance in court.

Mohammad police OC Azizul Haque said, "They were holding a meeting at the basement of that building at Lalmatia. We had information that the meeting was convened to plan violent activities during Sunday's strike. The raid was conducted on receiving that information."

After arresting them, former MP Alal and the others were taken to the Detective Branch headquarters.

Alal has been named as the prime accused in the case filed later by SI Masud Shikdar.