Police arrest six BNP men for torching bus during sit-in
The arrestees were picked up days earlier to fabricate the case and evidence, BNP claims
Dhaka district police have arrested six BNP leaders and activists for vandalising and torching a bus in Ashulia during the party's sit-in programme at Dhaka's entry points on 29 July.
The arrestees are Dhaka district unit Jubo Dal joint secretary Shahidul Islam, assistant organising secretary Suruzzaman, Dhamrai municipality unit Chhatra Dal activist Apurba Chandra Das, BNP activist Moniul Islam, Jubo Dal activists Md Sujon and Rajib Hossain.
Briefing media on Tuesday, Md Asaduzzaman, Superintendent of Dhaka district police, said after analysing CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, they made the arrests from Dhaka, Manikganj, and Rangpur.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
He said "Shahidul led a procession of BNP, Chhatra Dal, and Jubo Dal men on the Dhaka-Aricha highway on 29 July. From that procession, protesters vandalised public vehicles, hurled crude bombs, and torched a bus of Bikash Paribahan."
Anwar Hossain, the driver of the bus, filed a case with Ashulia Police Station in this connection.
"Shahidul, Suruzzaman, and Mominul were detained for interrogation on Saturday, and based on their information, the rest three were arrested. Police have identified several other BNP men involved in the vandalism and torching of the bus," SP Asaduzzaman said.
BNP's Dhaka district unit general secretary Nipun Roy alleged that police picked up BNP leaders Shahidul and his driver on 31 July, days before they were shown arrested for vandalism and torching bus.
Nipun, also a BNP executive committee member, alleged that the attacks were carried out in front of police, who remained inactive.
"Police are torturing the arrestees for a false confession," she claimed.
Refuting the allegation of torturing anyone, Riazuddin Biplob, officer-in-charge of DB north of Dhaka district police, told media that two of the six arrested accused gave confessional statements in court and three each were placed on a three-day remand.
The three leaders were kept in police custody during drives to arrest others involved in the crime. All six were produced in court on Tuesday, he explained.
However, police have an obligation to produce the detained person before the court within 24 hours.
