The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

The Joint forces in a countrywide crackdown yesterday, just 17 days after the Caretaker Government relaxed the ban on indoor politics, have arrested at least two hundred local leaders in different districts.

The mass arrests, under Emergency Powers Rules, included Awami League, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party leaders and union parishad chairmen.

BNP leaders at a party discussion meeting at the Institute of Engineers in the city yesterday informed that a large number of their activists have been arrested since Friday night.

Awami League informed 38 of their leaders have been arrested till yesterday afternoon from different districts.

The Joint Forces in Jhenidah picked up Joint Secretary of Sechhyasebak League central committee Saidul Karim Minto from his Aratpur residence Friday night. He was sent to jail Saturday after police produced him before the court showing him arrested under the Emergency Powers Rules.

Sources close to the police top brass hinted that more arrests are in the offing to curb any sort of violence in the coming days.

Awami League on Thursday threatened to disobey the law, if party President Sheikh Hasina was not released unconditionally. Taking a similar tough stand against the Government for the release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain had threatened of massive street agitation.

Both the Awami League and BNP leaders, now under detention, are facing corruption charges.

The parties held that no political dialogue initiated by the Government or election set for December will be meaningful or succeed without the participation of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

In Jessore 13 local leaders including those of AL and BNP, three UP chairmen and one municipality chairman were detained from the seven upazilas of Jessore. Major Ashraf of Jessore Joint Forces Camp confirmed the news and said they were handed over to police.

In Narail the Joint Forces in an overnight drive detained six AL and BNP leaders, who were handed over to the police later. Narail Sadar Police Station Sub-Inspector Abdur Rahman told reporters the detainees include former lawmaker and district BNP General Secretary Abdul Quader Sikder, district Awami League Joint General Secretary and Narail Municipality Chairman Sohrab Hossain Biswas, Narail Municipality Awami League General Secretary and ward commissioners Mansur Billah, Chhariul Biswas, Mostak Hossain and Alam were handed over to Narail Police Station early yesterday.

In Khulna the Joint Forces detained five leaders from the Sadar upazila, Sonadanga and Khalishpur. Khulna Joint Forces Camp official Capt Mohiuddin told reporters that the detainees were handed over to police.

The Joint Forces in Chapainawabganj arrested seven AL, BNP and Jamaat leaders in five upazilas of the district. Chapainawabganj Superintendent of Police SM Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman told reporters they were sent to jail showing them arrested under the Emergency Powers Rules.

In Bagerhat the Joint Forces arrested an AL organising secretary. Bagerhat Joint Forces Camp official Lt Col Md Shahinul Hoque told reporters he was handed over to the police, while Bagerhat Sadar police chief Md Humayun Kabir said he was shown arrested under the Emergency Powers Rules.

A number of arrests have been reported from Satkhira, Rangpur and Magura. Officials have confirmed the arrests.

Police and RAB, in separate drives, arrested four people along with three loaded firearms in Pabna, Jhalakati and Comilla districts in the last three days till Friday.

In Pabna, Rapid Action Battalion members raided Sadullapur in Sadar upazila on Friday and arrested gang leader Sonai Khan along with a gun and 10 rounds of bullet. He was handed over to Sadar thana later.

Police, acting on a tip-off, recovered a pipe gun and two rounds of bullet and also arrested Mainul Hossain, 35, from a cloth shop at Amuribunia in Kathalia upazila on Friday.

In Comilla, RAB members arrested M Amir Hossain and his accomplice M Sultan alias Sundar Ali from Dakkhingram in Burichang upazila on Wednesday.

They also recovered a gun and one round of bullet from their possession. Amir Hossain was wanted in a number of criminal cases, RAB sources said.

The Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad said, this crackdown would continue for month. No political leader will be arrested, only listed terrorist will be arrested, the IPG added.