Dulu among 40 BNP men held

Detectives arrested BNP Organising Secretary Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu from his Gulshan residence in Dhaka on December 11, 2018. Photo: Collected

At least 40 BNP men, including its Organising Secretary Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, have either been arrested or picked up in separate drives since Tuesday night, party leaders said.

Police yesterday picked up BNP candidate for Dhaka-1 Khandker Abu Ashfaq when he was returning home after campaigning in Joypara Bazar area of Dohar upazila of the district.

Fahima Hossain Jubli, activist of Dohar upazila BNP, told The Daily Star, "Police, along with Awami League men, attacked us when we were returning home around 7:00pm. Police picked up our candidate and left 20 others injured."

But Officer-in-Charge of Dohar Police Station Sazzad Hossain said BNP men set two vehicles on fire and attacked some Awami League men in the area.

Following the incident, AL men gathered there. Ashfaq was taken to police station for his safety and to avoid a clash between the two parties, the OC said.

Around 10:15pm yesterday, Ashfaq was released. He left the police station with his family members, the OC said.

Meanwhile, Dulu was arrested in his Gulshan home yesterday morning in connection with a case filed over sabotage.

A Dhaka court sent him to jail and fixed December 23 for hearing.

BNP had picked him for Natore-2. However, his candidacy was cancelled as he was convicted and sentenced in separate criminal cases.

Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they had an arrest warrant for Dulu in a case filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in 2015.

In another incident, Mohammadpur Thana BNP President Osman Gani Shahjahan was picked up by law enforcers in Agargaon area of the capital.

BNP candidate for Dhaka-13 Abdus Salam told The Daily Star that Osman was picked up around 2:15pm when they were returning from the Election Commission after lodging a complaint for harassment and intimidation of BNP activists.

In Patuakhali, 20 BNP men were arrested over their involvement in Tuesday's AL-BNP clash.

However, local BNP leaders claimed the number of arrestees were 30.

At least 30 BNP men were injured in Tuesday's clash which broke out as both the parties tried to hold meetings at the same place at the same time.

Anmul Islam Litu, general secretary of the Rangabali upazila AL, filed a case with local police station accusing 45 named and 70 unidentified people after the incident.

In Noakhali, police arrested six BNP men for their alleged involvement with the murder of a Jubo League leader.

Md Hanif, general secretary of ward-9 in Eozbaria union of Noakhali Sadar, was shot dead in Shullokia area on Tuesday afternoon.

Police suspected the bullet was fired from a BNP procession.

However, Abdur Rahman, general secretary of BNP in the district, denied the allegation and said it was a conspiracy against the party.

In Faridpur, police yesterday detained 10 BNP men in connection with a case over the murder of an AL man.

AFM Nasim, officer-in-charge of Faridpur Sadar Police Station, said the BNP men were allegedly involved in the murder of Yusuf Al Mamun, cultural affairs secretary of North Channel union AL.

Another BNP man was picked up by law enforcers in Chattogram, alleged Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP candidate for Chattogram-11.

Police picked up Md Sikander, president of Double Mooring unit BNP, who was also the election coordinator of the party, in front of his home, Khashru said.

However, the Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Mohammed Mohsin said police did not pick up anyone from there.

Md Kamruzzaman, additional deputy commissioner of DB north, said he was not informed about the incident.