Pro-BNP lawyers defending partymen fear arrest themselves

The BNP top brass has alleged that law enforcers have filed at least 50 charges against leaders and activists of the party in Dhaka over the last couple of days. The charges usually brought against BNP men include unauthorized public assembly, carrying lethal weapons, vandalism, obstructing law enforcers from carrying out their activities, and attempted murder of on-duty policemen, according to the party. “Police generally detain BNP’s grassroots-level leaders and activists such as presidents and secretaries of local units. But, they may now target BNP-allied lawyers, as the lawyers possess important legal documents and handle cases filed against the top leaders, including Khaleda Zia,” pro-BNP lawyer Barrister Ehsanur Rahman expressed fears, while speaking to the Dhaka Tribune. At least 4,300 leaders and activists were detained before and after the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case verdict that sent party chief Khaleda to jail for five years, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed, adding that police continue to arrest their men. However, media reports show that over 3,000 BNP men were held across the country in the last few days. BNP Chairperson Khaleda’s Adviser Amanullah Aman, Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Executive Committee member Nazimuddin Alam, assistant organizing secretaries Masukur Rahman Mashuk and Aninda Islam Amit, Information Affairs Secretary Azizul Bari Helal, Swechchhasebak Dal President Shafiul Bari Babu are among the top leaders detained ahead of the verdict. Asked, the police officials concerned declined to give any accurate data in this regard. In reply to journalists’ query on Wednesday, Inspector General of Police Javed Patwari said the number of arrestees per day now exceeds the usual figure by 59. “It’s not that law enforcers arrest only BNP leaders and activists. There are other accused and criminals among the detainees,” he said, refuting the BNP’s allegation that police are carrying out a mass arrest of the party’ leaders, activists and supporters. IGP Patwari also said police will continue their drives until they fully address the risk of violence and unrest over the verdict. Entry to different police stations across the country has been restricted, and journalists are also denied entry in some stations. Sources said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested some 1,197 people from February 1 to 7. Of them, 210 were arrested under the DMP Act, 529 in regular cases and 384 in old ones. Earlier, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia claimed that police were arresting BNP men on specific charges. About the BNP’s allegation of mass arrest and obstruction of gatherings by police, he said:“No mass arrest is occurring in the country. If anyone could bring such complaints to us with specific evidence, then we will certainly take them into account and investigate accordingly.”