Police will not impose a ban on vehicular movement at night. Though the law enforcement agency earlier urged the transport owners not to operate long-haul buses at night given the volatile situation, it was now up to them to decide whether they want to bring out their vehicles.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque yesterday made the remark at a presser following his first visit to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) headquarters in the capital’s Uttara.
“The situation is fast improving and according to latest figures, around 54,000 vehicles are now plying the highways,” the IGP said.
Asked if BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would be arrested, he said: “The cases filed against her are now being looked into. If the investigation officers find credible involvement of the BNP chief, only then she can be arrested.”
According to sources, 700 cases were filed since violence began on January 6. At least three were against the BNP chief. The latest bomb blast case named her as the prime accused.
“We will work with full strength against the criminals involved in killing people by petrol bombs. If necessary, the crackdown will be intensified by incorporating members of all the law enforcement agencies.”
He said they are still not seeing Hizb ut-Tahrir as a threat, but officials are aware about its activities.
Denying allegation that police are harassing innocent people, the IGP said: “Law enforcers only attack or use firearms for self-defence.”
In reply to a question about police wearing bulletproof vest, the police Chief explained that police only wear the gears that are designed officially. No one is allowed to wear any other gears – be it a bulletproof vest or something else – without the approval of the concerned office.
Director General (DG) of RAB Benazir Ahmed, Additional DGs Col Ziaul Ahsan and Col Aftab Uddin Ahmed, Legal and Media Wing Director (RAB) Mufti Mahmud Khan and its intelligence chief Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad were present during the presser.
Earlier, a guard of honour was given to the IGP on his first visit to the elite force headquarters where the he also held a meeting with senior RAB officials.
