BNP Vice Chairman Altaf Hossain Chowdhury arrested; Shahjahan Omar allegedly picked up
BNP claims its Vice-Chairman Shahjahan Omar was picked up by police on Saturday night, although it was not confirmed by the law enforcement forces
Former Home Minister and BNP Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury has been arrested by law enforcement, said Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Sunday (5 November).
Meanwhile, BNP Vice-Chairman Barrister Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam has also been picked up by police on Saturday night, according to a statement released by the party.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, in the statement, condemned the arrest, although it was not confirmed by the law enforcement forces.
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Altaf Hossain Chowdhury was arrested from the Tongi area while he was in hiding, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin said.
The former home and commerce minister has been detained in connection with the case of attack, sabotage, and violence on the residence of the Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
He has been brought to RAB headquarters for preliminary interrogation.
In addition to Shahjahan Omar's arrest, the BNP statement also protested the arrests of BNP Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury earlier this morning and BNP Organising Secretary (Mymensingh division) Imran Saleh Prince a day before.
Rizvi said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has effectively turned the country into a massive prison. On one side, the government's subordinate Election Commission has called upon the BNP to participate in the upcoming elections, while simultaneously initiating a crackdown on leaders and workers at all levels, including senior figures."
Rizvi characterised this situation as being comparable to a "big joke."
Earlier on Saturday evening, BNP Organising Secretary Imran Saleh Prince was arrested by the Detective Branch of Police from a relative's house in Badda of the capital.
An assistant commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.
Reportedly, the arrests were made over the sabotage case filed centring the BNP's 28 October rally, which devolved into violence, said the official.
On 28 October, the chief justice's residence came under attack when miscreants threw brick chips during the political rallies.
Many BNP activists, including the party's senior leaders, have been arrested and remanded recently over the recent political violence.
Police have detained BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, among other leaders, following deadly clashes that rocked parts of Dhaka and the rest of the country as the party and its allies called for a hartal and a three-day long nationwide blockade.
On Saturday evening, BNP Organising Secretary Imran Saleh Prince was arrested by the Detective Branch of Police from a relative's house in Badda of the capital.
