Over 4,000 BNP leaders and activists in Khulna have been named in 19 cases related to the party’s October 28 rally and subsequent violence in Dhaka.
Among the arrested are Khulna district BNP Convener Amir Ejaz Khan, metropolitan BNP Joint Convener Kazi Mahmud Ali, Dakop upazila BNP Member Secretary Abdul Mannan and district Chhatra Dal President Abdul Mannan Mistry.
They, along with 550 others, were arrested and sent to jail in various cases.
According to BNP sources, 75 individuals were arrested in different cases filed in 2021 and 2022, and 65 people were sent to court in new cases during the recent blockade. All 19 newly filed cases have been registered under the Special Powers Act.
Amir Ejaz Khan was arrested from the Jalma area of the upazila on November 2 afternoon in connection with an Explosive Substances Act case at Batiaghata police station, said Batiaghata police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Shaukat Kabir.
Additionally, on October 31, Khulna Sadar police station Sub Inspector (SI) Md Khalid Uddin filed a case under the Special Powers Act, naming 47 people as plaintiffs, including district BNP Convener Amir Ejaz Khan.
On the same day, SI Niaz Morshed of Sonadanga police station filed another case under the Special Powers Act, listing 37 individuals as plaintiffs, where Amir Ejaz Khan was also accused.
Terkhada police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Chanchal Kumar Halder filed a case on November 2 in which BNP leader Jalal Uddin Chowdhury, who passed away 11 years ago, was named as an accused. The case falls under the Special Powers Act and the Explosive Substances Act.
A total of 50 individuals have been accused, along with 150-200 unidentified persons.
Khulna district Chhatra Dal President Abdul Mannan Mistry was taken from his home by the police.
Mannan's niece Munni Khatun reported that on the afternoon of November 1, eight individuals in plain clothes entered Mannan's rented house in the Nirala area. They were all armed.
Khulna Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Hasan Al-Mamun said: “We do not have any information about the arrest or detention of Abdul Mannan Mistry.”
BM Nuruzzaman, deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police, reiterated the same.
Prominent BNP leaders from Khulna city and district, including Central Information Secretary Azizul Bari Helal, Student Affairs Secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul, have been sued under the Special Powers Act.
A total of 47 individuals have been accused in the case filed by SI Khalid Uddin at Khulna Sadar police station.
OC Hasan Al Mamun mentioned that the case was filed against them for alleged involvement in a conspiracy against the government, leading to the arrest of two individuals.
Additionally, district BNP Convener Amir Ejaz Khan, member secretary Monirul Hasan Bappi, city BNP member secretary Shafikul Alam Tuhin, and senior joint convener Tariqul Islam Zahir, along with over two hundred BNP leaders and activists, have been held separately. The case was filed by SI Niaz Morshed of Sonadanga police station on Tuesday night.
Sonadanga Model police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Momtazul Haque reported the arrest of six individuals related to the incident.
Khalishpur police station OC Md Anwar Hossain informed that during the hartal on October 29, someone set fire to tables and chairs in a small office of Ward No 14 of BNP. An operation is underway to identify and arrest those involved in the incident.
Furthermore, seven individuals affiliated with BNP and related parties were arrested from the night of November 6 to the evening of November 7, just before the commencement of the third phase of the 48-hour road, rail, and waterway blockade program.
Md Shaheen, OC of Rupsa police station, mentioned that eight people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the bus-burning case.
Khulna Metropolitan BNP Member Secretary Shafiqul Alam Tuhin condemned the government's use of force against BNP leaders and activists nationwide in an attempt to disrupt the ongoing blockade program. He affirmed that the blockade would continue despite these challenges.