Political unrest escalates as opposition leaders face mass arrests

Staff Reporter :
Opposition political parties, notably the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organisations, find themselves under increasing pressure, with leaders and activists being targeted for arrests in various cases across the country.

This wave of arrests has sparked a sense of insecurity and trepidation among opposition figures as they gear up for the forthcoming parliamentary election scheduled to be held January next year.

Since the start of August, over 12,500 BNP leaders and workers have been apprehended across the country as political movements, led by BNP and other opposition parties, have gained momentum, BNP sources said.

Criticising the government and law enforcement’s strategy of quelling their movement through mass arrests, the BNP alleges that fabricated cases are being used to suppress their political activities.

Local BNP leaders reveal that nighttime raids are being carried out to apprehend them under alleged false charges, exacerbating their challenges.

The opposition party claims that these actions are orchestrated by the government in an attempt to quell their ongoing anti-government campaign aimed at restoring democracy and reinstating people’s voting rights.

Despite these crackdowns, BNP leaders affirm that their determination remains unwavering in pushing forward with their mass movement to demand a free and fair election under a caretaker government.

In the past week alone, numerous cases have been filed against BNP leaders and activists across the country.

In a recent incident in Narayanganj, around 700 BNP members, including 114 named individuals, were implicated in a case in connection with a clash between BNP leaders, workers, and the police during a BNP road procession on last Saturday.

The police detained nine individuals in connection with the confrontation. Among the arrested were Ibrahim, 62, the religious affairs secretary of Jamapur Union BNP, and BNP worker Suruj Mia, 55, while the identities of other detainees were not disclosed.

Confirming the arrests, Inspector (Investigation) Ahsan Ullah of the Sonargaon Police Station stated that those detained were allegedly involved in an attack on the police during the procession.

According to police reports, the clash took place on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Kanchpur, stemming from a confrontation between BNP leaders, workers, and the police.

Allegations of stone-throwing, obstruction of police vehicles, and the use of cocktails during the incident were reported, resulting in injuries to police personnel.

Concurrently, another incident unfolded in Habiganj, where clashes between local Awami League and BNP leaders transpired during a BNP road procession.

Following the clashes, police registered cases against 1,200 leaders and workers, leading to the arrest of 16 individuals.

Two cases were filed under the Explosive Act and prevention of public work on August 22 by Sub-Inspectors of Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station, Wahed Gazi, and Khorshed Alam.

On the other hand, Police from Damurhuda and Darshana Police Stations in Chuadanga launched joint drive and apprehended six leaders and workers affiliated with BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami on Tuesday night.

They had been sent to the Chuadanga District Jail on Wednesday.

The arrested individuals are: Jamaat leader Hafizur Rahman from Chandipur village; Rakibul Hasan, joint convener of Chuadanga govt college; BNP activist of Titudoha union Rabiul Islam, Shahidul Islam from Dakshin Chandpur village; Ibrahim Hossain from the same village; and Ashrafu Haque Zakir from Kudulgachhi village.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Darshana Police Station, Biplob Kumar Saha, stated that police have received information that leaders and workers affiliated with BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were conspiring to create unrest.

In response, the police initiated operations to apprehend them by conducting raids at the residences of various activists.

On another front, as part of a police operation in Damurhuda Model Police Station’s jurisdiction, Shamsul Haque, the general secretary of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Karipasdanga Union, was arrested.

On Wednesday afternoon, he was sent to Chuadanga District Jail under special act
Condemning the widespread arrest, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has consistently voiced his concerns.

He asserted that the police are reviving outdated and concocted charges against their members, utilising them as a pretext to apprehend and harass their party affiliates.

This tactic, he emphasised, is an attempt to curb their campaign for their rightful rights and democratic pursuits.