Police detain BNP leader Mojibur Rahman Sarwar

Sarwar, a former lawmaker from Barishal-5, was apprehended at a residence in Dhaka's Mohammadpur in the early hours of Friday

File photo: Mojibur Rahman Sarwar (third from left).

Mojibur Rahman Sarwar has become the latest BNP leader to be detained by the police against a backdrop of mounting political tensions in the lead-up to the 12th national election.

Sarwar, a former lawmaker from Barishal-5, was apprehended at a residence in Dhaka's Mohammadpur around 3:30 am on Friday, according to Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the senior joint secretary general of the BNP.

Expressing concern over the situation, Rizvi said, "Mojibur Rahman Sarwar's family reported that he was taken away by plainclothes officers late at night. I strongly condemn and protest against such detention."

The arrest came hours after the detention of Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of the opposition group's policymaking body. He was apprehended by detective police in Dhaka's Gulshan during ongoing violent anti-government protests led by the BNP.

Earlier in the week, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas were also arrested, intensifying the political turmoil.