Khaleda will be arrested only if evidence of instigation is found: Police

Police are not arresting Khaleda Zia, facing charges of instigating an arson attack in Dhaka, anytime soon amid calls to detain the BNP chairperson.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia clarified their stance on Monday.

“Police do not work on assumption,” he said. “We collect information, check them and investigate before arresting anyone.

“So, we’ll take steps based on evidence from our investigation no matter who the culprit is,” the DMP chief said replying to a question.

An arson attack on a passenger bus in Jatrabarhi last Friday left at least 31 people injured amid a BNP-sponsored blockade.

Police named Khaleda as the instigator of the incident in a case filed over the incident on Saturday, drawing warning from the BNP of ‘dire consequences’.

A pro-Awami League transport workers’ organisation has issued the government a Jan 31 deadline to arrest Khaleda.

The DMP commissioner said, “We’ll take steps based on our investigation regardless of who the culprit is.”

Blockade-induced violence has killed at least 35 people across Bangladesh, leaving hundreds of others injured.

Violence on highways has disrupted long-haul traffic in a serious blow to businesses who have threatened to move the court demanding a ban on violent political programmes.

An organisation of businessmen last Friday claimed the first 16 days alone had cost them about Tk 365 billion or 2.7 percent of GDP.

Police have arrested 633 people in Dhaka since Khaleda called the agitation on Jan 5. Mobile courts have punished 28 of them.

Altogether 149 cases have been filed over acts of violence in Dhaka.

“None involved in violence will be spared,” the DMP commissioner added.