The joint forces of police, RAB and BGB have arrested around 500 people from around the country including the capital between Friday night and yesterday morning, ahead of the opposition’s Dhaka march programme.
The drives were allegedly focused on picking up BNP-Jamaat men, especially those who were coming to Dhaka on passenger buses for joining the “March to Democracy” and the Nayapaltan rally.
Apart from 203 people picked up from the capital’s Tejgaon, 126 passengers have been arrested in Tangail from a number of Dhaka-bound trains and buses, 30 from a bus in Rajshahi that was headed for the capital, and 24 from the capital’s Sadarghat after they arrived in launches.
Another 95 people were arrested in Bogra, 80 in Chittagong, 20 in Savar, 14 in Joypurhat, 33 in Comilla, 16 in Brahmanbaria, six in Laxmipur, 12 in Sunamganj, 30 in Rajshahi, 12 in Jhenidah, seven in Khulna and six in Natore.
Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker, said the law enforcers had been discharging their duties neutrally and none had been arrested unlawfully.
“Police has no stance either against or in favour of any political programme”, the IGP said. “The law enforcers are doing everything to ensure security for public and their properties.”
Biplab Kumer Sarkar, deputy commissioner of Tejgaon police, told Dhaka Tribune that the detained people had been taken to the police stations concerned and their identities were being verified. “If any of them is found innocent, they will be released immediately.”
Earlier, more than 170 people were arrested early Thursday and Friday in the capital’s Mirpur, Jatrabari and Demra areas by the joint forces.
In Tangail, 126 passengers were picked up from different Dhaka-bound trains, buses and other vehicles yesterday. Nazrul Islam, OC of Sadar police station, said they had arrested them on suspicion that they might take part in subversive acts in the capital centring the march programme.
In Sadarghat in the capital, 16 were detained from various launches coming in from Bhola, and eight from Eagle 2, coming from Chandpur.
In Rajshahi, at least 30 passengers of a Dhaka-bound bus of Bornali Paribahan were detained at Boalia around 2:30pm yesterday.
In Bogra, 95 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in arson, vandalism, violence, anarchy and attacks on police.
In Savar near Dhaka, 15 people, including two municipality ward councilors, were arrested on charges of giving rise to violence during the ongoing political agitation.