Over 20,000 unidentified people, including some top leaders of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have been made accused in 20 cases filed with different police stations after the violence erupted over the quota reform movement in the Sylhet division.
A total of 117 people have so far been arrested in the cases, and most of them are leaders and activists of the BNP and Jamaat.
To evade arrest, many leaders and activists of the two parties are now in hiding in the wake of the ongoing combing operation.
BNP Sylhet Division’s Organizing Secretary GK Gaus and Deputy Organizing Secretary Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon, also a former lawmaker, are named as the prime accused in the cases filed in Habiganj and Sunamganj.
A top BNP leader, seeking anonymity, said: “Most of our leaders and activists have been accused in various cases filed in different places. Many homes are being raided by law enforcers in plainclothes. As a result, many leaders and workers have left their residences.”
The president of a ward unit of Sylhet Metropolitan BNP, wishing not to be named, said that the police searched his home twice. So, he does not feel safe staying at home.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Deputy Commissioner (North) Azbahar Ali Sheikh said: “A group of miscreants was engaged in violence, capitalizing on the quota movement, in Sylhet. Cases have been filed against them, and many have been arrested. Law enforcement agencies are conducting raids to arrest these criminals and terrorists.”
According to police sources, 241 people have been named, and about 16,000 unidentified people have been accused in 12 cases. A separate case was filed with the Kotwali police station in connection with the murder of journalist ATM Turab in police firing on Friday.
Besides, BNP leader Kalim Uddin Milon and several hundred unknown people were accused in four cases filed in Sunamganj, and more than 1,000 people, including BNP leader GK Gaus, were accused in five cases filed in Habiganj.
38 detained from Sust gate shown arrested
On Friday, 38 students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) were detained under Section 54 and kept in jail.
They were produced before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Umme Habiba on Thursday morning and shown arrested in the case.
Most of them are students of Sust and different educational institutions.
Police have accused them of setting fire to a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw at the Kumargaon bus stand.
Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Nowshad Ahmed Chowdhury said: “On Friday, they were detained and sent to jail in a GD filed over the incident. Today, they have been shown arrested in a regular case.”
On the other hand, four cases have been filed with the Jalalabad police station.
One of the cases was filed on July 20 under the Special Powers Act and the Explosives Act in connection with the violence at Sust gate. Besides, another case was filed against 2,000 unidentified people, mentioning the names of 24 people in connection with the arson attack at the Pathantula police box. Another case was filed naming 22 people in connection with the siege of Jalalabad police station.
On Monday night, the Power Division filed a case against 15 to 20 unidentified people regarding the attack on the Kumarogaon power office.