Attempt to detain Shafik Rehman

Police tried to detain senior journalist Shafik Rehman on Wednesday from in front of Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office amid a crackdown on the BNP leaders.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 25 Dec 2013, 05:57 PM
Updated : 25 Dec 2013, 07:43 PM

But they apparently changed their mind, letting Rehman go around 9:45pm, when he was leaving the BNP chief’s office after a Christmas function hosted for Khaleda to exchange greetings.

Rehman had gone there along with other leaders of the main opposition party and leaders of pro-BNP professionals.

A little before the function started, police officials on duty there were seen putting BNP Standing Committee member RA Gani in one of their vehicles when he was entering the party chief’s office. But he was not detained, the law enforcers said.

DMP’s Gulshan zone Assistant Commissioner Nurul Amin told bdnews24.com they only ‘escorted’ Gani to his home.

The law enforcers seemed to be on a roll to pick up leaders of the BNP since the evening as they first detained former party MP Sarder Sakhawat Hossain Bokul from in front of Khaleda’s Gulshan residence.

Narsinghdi BNP unit has announced a general strike in the district for Thursday protesting against his detention.

Police also detained BNP MP Shammi Akter and Tabid Awal, son of BNP Chairperson’s advisor Abdul Awal Mintoo, around 9:15pm Wednesday when they were leaving Khaleda’s office.

A little later, around 9:45pm, police tried to take Shafik Rehman away in one of their vehicles as he came out.

Bangladesh Bar Council Vice-Chairman Khandaker Mahbub Hossain was also leaving at the time. Police were seen leading Rehman to his vehicle.

Addressing Rehman, one of the policemen said, “Please go sir, greetings of red roses to you.”

The senior journalist produces and anchors a TV programme named ‘Lal Golap’ (Red Rose).