Centring around the BNP's mass rally, the capital's Naya Paltan and its surrounding areas turned into a battlefield on Saturday.
Miscreants set fire to at least seven police boxes, including setting fire to more than 50 vehicles.
Following the incident, a bus driver said that a young man wearing a vest set fire to his bus.
According to the police, the suspect, identified as Rabiul Islam Nayan, was captured on video setting the bus ablaze. Nayan, who wore a vest during the incident, is the member secretary of Dhaka South Jubo Dal. He was previously arrested in 2013-14 for a similar offence.
Police officials have gathered multiple video clips depicting the incident, including the burning of a bus, and have initiated an investigation. They are working to apprehend Nayan, hoping his arrest will lead to the identification of others involved in the incident.
A Balaka Paribahan bus was set on fire on Malibagh flyover around 3:45pm on Saturday. In video footage, Jubo Dal leader Rabiul Islam Nayan and a group of individuals are seen walking around the side of the bus wearing a bulletproof jacket. The bulletproof jacket has the word “press” written on it. He has a stick in his hand. Among them, a young man throws a bottle of liquid inside the car.
Detectives, after carefully collecting and analyzing the footage and incident data, revealed that Rabiul Islam Nayan and his associates rode motorcycles wearing jackets labelled “press”, subsequently setting the bus on fire. Investigations are underway, with authorities actively pursuing those involved.
On Saturday night, Mohammad Harun Or Rashid, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB), informed reporters that a thorough investigation is underway to identify and capture the individuals responsible for setting fire wearing law enforcement uniforms. He noted that the same group, known for igniting various locations including the police hospital during the recent conflict, may have orchestrated the bus attack while wearing vests to divert attention.
According to reliable sources, Rabiul Islam Nayan hails from the Panighata area of Mohammadpur in Magura. After completing his schooling, Nayan became involved in Chhatra Dal politics in Dhaka. He rose to prominence, serving as the joint convener of Dhaka Metropolitan North Ward No 47 and later the Mohammadpur thana Chhatra Dal.
His bravery earned him the admiration of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Subsequently, he was appointed as the joint convener of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jubo Dal and later became the member secretary of Dhaka South Jubo Dal.
Intelligence sources revealed that Nayan is accused in around 200 cases. These cases span across various police stations in both Magura's Mohammadpur and several areas in the capital. Notably, in late December 2013 and early January 2014, Nayan and two accomplices set a police bus ablaze in Banglamotor, Dhaka. They were involved in igniting three different buses in locations such as Paribagh and Panthpath, resulting in fatalities, including a policeman.
On January 6, 2014, Dhaka Metropolitan Police apprehended nine individuals, including Nayan and his associates, known as the “Three-Star” group, for their involvement in the bus arson incidents.
According to intelligence officials, Rabiul Islam Nayan was already proficient in setting buses ablaze. On Saturday, he and his associates orchestrated bus fires in various areas. To evade detection, Nayan now employs a cunning strategy – he wears a bulletproof jacket with “press” written on it, disguising himself to confuse law enforcement and prevent them from recognizing him as a Jubo Dal leader.
A detective mentioned that the driver of one of the torched vehicles identified a young man wearing a DB jacket as the culprit, who turned out to be Nayan. The driver may have mistaken the “press” label for DB. If Nayan and his associates are apprehended, the truth behind these incidents will be unveiled, shedding light on who orchestrated these attacks and under whose orders Nayan carried out the arsons.
