BNP leader Noman arrested in Gazipur on charges of sparking public fear

BNP Vice Chairman Abdullah Al Noman has been arrested in Gazipur while campaigning for a party man running in the city corporation election.

Police nabbed him while he was coming out of BNP-nominated Gazipur City Corporation mayor candidate Hassan Uddin Sarkar's Tongi residence on Sunday afternoon.

Immediately after the arrest, police cordoned off the residence.

Several leaders and activists, including BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu, Joint Secretary-General Moazzam Hossain Alal and Gazipur district chapter of BNP’s President Fazlul Haque Milon were inside the residence during the police cordon.

The BNP leader and former minister had attended a news conference held by Sarkar for giving reaction to the High Court’s stay order on Gazipur polls scheduled for May 15.

Police whisked Noman away from his car soon after he had left the media briefing, said his personal secretary Nurul Azim Hiru.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Tania Akhter of Tongi Police Station said police had brought in 13 people, including Noman.

She declined to give further details immediately.

However, Gazipur’s Assistant Superintendent of Police Rasel Sheikh confirmed the arrest of Noman around 8pm.

He told bdnews24.com, “Ten BNP men have been detained on charges of blocking roads, vandalising public transports and sparking fear among the public."

A few days ago, the Awami League alleged that BNP had been gathering their henchmen in Gazipur to create anarchy ahead of the vote.