A Dhaka court yesterday sent BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeswar Chandra Roy and three others on three-day remand in a case filed with the Shahbagh police station for the attempted murder of AL MP Chhabi Biswas.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia strongly condemned Gayeswar’s detention saying: “it reflects the autocratic character of the illegal government.”
“The Awami League government is oppressing BNP men to exact vengeance,” she said in a press release yesterday.
The three other arrestees were identified as BNP’s Chhatra Dal Turag police station unit Organising Secretary Md Atikur Rahman and BNP supporters Md Mohiuddin Chowdhury and Mizanur Rahman.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Tosruzzaman granted the remand request for the arrestees after the investigating officer (IO) of the case, Shahbagh police station Inspector (investigation) Md Habil Hossain, produced them before the court with a 10-day remand plea.
IO Habil told the court that the BNP leader was behind the planning of the police assault and the attack on Chhabi Biswas.
The Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Gayeswar from his house in the Siddheshwari area of the capital in the early hours of Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Masudur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune.
“Soon after the arrest, Gayeswar was taken to the DB office and shown arrested in the case lodged with the Shahbagh police station over Wednesday’s violence, the attack on the Awami League lawmaker and police assault,” the police deputy commissioner said.
Masud said the three others were arrested during a drive in the Turag area of the capital on Thursday night.
During the drive, machines to leak vehicle tyres were recovered from their possession. They were shown arrested in the Shahbagh case for suspected involvement in the Bakshibazar violence, he added.
Some 54 machines were recovered from their possession. During the interrogation, they confessed that they were to use the devices during the clashes.
Detectives also conducted raids on the houses BNP Dhaka city unit convener Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel on Thursday night.
‘Entire country a jail’
The BNP chief demanded the immediate release of Gayeswar and called upon the authorities to withdraw all “false” cases filed against him.
She demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained BNP members.
“The Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina herself is leading a terrorist gang as she loves her position more than the country,” she said, adding that the entire country had been turned into a jail.
“The people will not accept this and they are getting ready to stage a massive demonstration in order to end the era of the illegal government,” Khaleda said.
Claiming that all important government positions had been filled by die-hard Awami Leaguers, she said: “The illegal government has turned the law enforcement agencies into a gang of miscreants and are using them as a tool of oppression against the BNP.”
She blamed law enforcement personnel for the ongoing incidents of killings and disappearances across the country, saying: “Law enforcers have failed to ensure the security of the common people in the country.”
She said law and order situation had deteriorated since the Awami League-led government took power.
“It thought it would stay in power forever by snatching people’s right to vote. As they have failed to win the people’s support, they are carrying out acts of vengeance and unleashing violence on their opponents,” she added.
The press statement claimed that incidences of killings and abductions are being carried out by the “cadres” of the Chhatra League and Jubo League in order to resist those involved in ousting the “illegal government.”
Referring to Wednesday’s Bakshibazar clashes, Khaleda said: “The government has declared a violent war against the BNP. In fact, the war has been declared against the people.”
BNP leaders and activists clashed with Chhatra League activists near the Bakshibazar makeshift court ahead of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s appearance in court in two corruption cases on Wednesday.
At least 30 people including AL MP Chhabi Biswas were injured in the clash. Assailants torched the AL lawmaker’s car which was parked in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Two cases were filed against 150 leaders and activists of the BNP and its youth and student wings in connection with the clash.
Former Chhatra Dal president Azizul Bari Helal and incumbent President Rajib Ahsan were accused in a case filed on the night of the incident.
