11 cases filed against 549 BNP leaders, activists; 149 arrested

At least 11 cases have been filed against 549 leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)  in connection with the clashes between party activists and police over its sit-in programme at Dhaka’s key entry points.

Police arrested at least 149 BNP leaders and activists in these cases.

Among the accused, 469 are named and another 70-80 are undammed.

The cases were filed for clashes, vandalism and arson attacks during the sit-ins on Saturday, said Farooq Hossain, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police‍‍`s Media and Public Relations Division.

Nine of the cases were filed by sub-inspectors of Uttara West, Uttara East, Bongshal, Airport, Kodomtoli, Jatrabari, and Sutrapur police stations and the rest two by two individuals.

He said that the BNP organized an ‘illegal rally’ yesterday ignoring DMP‍‍`s disapproval.

“They vandalized buses and blasted crude bombs, vandalized police cars, attacked police officers, and obstructed them from performing duties,” he said.

BNP’s sit-in programme at the key entry points of Dhaka was marred by clashes and violence on Saturday, leaving an unspecified number of people injured.

Several vehicles were torched in different areas, including Matuail and Shyamoli, during the clashes between BNP activists and police.

Police also beat up BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, leaving him injured. The law enforcers later picked him up from the spot.

Police also picked up BNP’s Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman from Gabtoli Bus Station around 12 pm as he along with BNP activists tried to stage a sit-in there.

Later, they were released.

Clashes broke out between BNP leaders, activists and police when the opposition activists gathered at several entry points of Dhaka to observe their five-hour sit-in programme.

The opposition leaders and activists locked in clashes with police at Dholaikhal, Uttara, Matuail, Rayerbag and Gabtoli when they took position there observing their scheduled programme.