A Dhaka court on Thursday placed Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman and former MP Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho on a five-day remand in a case lodged over vandalizing and setting Setu Bhaban in the capital's Banani area on fire on July 18.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sultan Sohagh Uddin passed the order in the afternoon as police produced Partho before the court and pleaded to place him on a 10-day remand, reports BSS.
Partho's lawyer Ali Bashar filed a plea seeking bail. The court denied the bail.
At one stage of the hearing, when Ali Bashar told the court that Partho wanted to say something, the court allowed it.
Claiming himself innocent, Partho told the court that he was not involved in the heinous offenses.
A generation has turned away from politics because of the ongoing politics. Everything is in the hands of Almighty Allah, He is the greatest judge, said the BJP chairman.
Partho continued: "Alhamdulillah, in a short time in my political life, I have been able to go to the place of faith of many people by the grace of God. Those who do positive politics like us, seeing them 10 more boys will be encouraged to come to politics in Bangladesh. We also want the rule of law. The country will survive only if politics survives. Even if there is fair politics, the country will survive.”
He further said nothing changes overnight.
AfterAndaleeve Rahman Partho, BNP Vice-chairman Barkatullah Bulu's son, and two other BNP leaders were arrested from Dhaka early Thursday, according to a statement of BNP.
In the statement on Thursday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claimed that law enforcers picked up Barrister Andaleeve from his residence in Baridhara rea at 1am on Thursday, reports UNB.
Besides, BNP’s Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam, standing committee member Tariqul Islam Tenjing, and Barkatullah Bulu's son Saniat, who is not involved in politics, were arrested from different parts of the capital as part of arrest spree across the country over quota movement, said Mirza Fakhrul.
He issued the statement condemning the recent mass arrest of BNP and other opposition leaders and activists.
A mob of 250/300 people on July 18 stormed into on the premises of Setu Bhaban, vandalized many vehicles, and motorbikes, ransacked different sheds and rooms, and later set those on fire.
They attacked and beat many employees black and blue.
