BNP activists have stormed a police van and snatched two of the fellow activists soon after they had been detained in the capital.
Published : 30 Jan 2018, 06:04 PM
They attacked the prison van near the High Court and snatched two detainees in the presence of Khaleda Zia as she was returning from the court hearing, Deputy Police Commissioner Maruf Hossain Sardar said.
Police have arrested 69 people at the scene during a clash with agitating BNP activists who took away weapons and other protective gears from police.
The incident coincided Khaleda Zia's court appearance on Tuesday when she attended Zia Charitable Trust graft case hearing at a special judge’s court in Bakhsibazar.
BNP activists often gather on the roadside from the capital’s High Court to Bakhsibazar to wave to their party chief but end up clashing with police on Khaleda’s way back from the special court.
Deputy Commissioner Maruf, however, could not provide identities of the two BNP activists snatched from police custody.
BNP leaders later told bdnews24.com that the two snatched away from police were the party’s National Executive Committee member Obaidul Haque Nasir and one ‘Sohag’.
He confirmed that 69 people were detained at the scene.
“We showed great patience. They attacked us without any reason. We did not take any big action immediately as Khaleda Zia was there,” Maruf said.
Shahbagh Police Station Inspector Zafar Ali Biswas told bdnews24.com they were initiating a case over the vandalising of prison van, pelting of brickbats and attack in police in an attempt to murder.
He claimed no one was taken to the van until they came under attack.