Police block doors to BNP central office in Naya Paltan

Dhaka Metropolitan Police raided the party’s headquarters around midnight on Tuesday

After the midnight raid by Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the BNP’s headquarters in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan stood empty with the collapsible gate closed.

Police have blocked off the front of the central offices with yellow tape. Lines of uniformed police personnel can be seen on both sides of the office.

Foot traffic has been blocked next to the office. Police are redirecting pedestrians attempting to pass through the area.

Sadaruddin, who owns a tea stall opposite the BNP office, said:

“The police blocked off the BNP office with yellow tape after the raid. They’re not allowing anyone to enter. There was a lot of commotion in the night… the police fired bullets and set off explosions as they came to the office.”

A worker at the BNP office said on the telephone that police kicked them out of the office and took control of it last night before starting their raid. Since then, the BNP has been unable to go there.

“As you can see, they have put up yellow security tape,” they said.

A team of police led by Detective Branch chief Harunor Rashid conducted a raid on the BNP headquarters and recovered over 100 improvised explosives, over 500 rods and bats, seven local weapons and several bottles of petrol.

At a virtual briefing, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi described the raid as a ‘dirty farce’ by the government and law enforcers.