The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

The Joint forces nabbed at least 2,000 people, including local political leaders, in their hunt for terrorists across the country for the second day till yesterday.

The arrests came hot on the heels of the threat of boycott of talks with the Caretaker Government on elections in December by Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Police officials confirmed the arrests, but denied they were political and did not say how many people were being held.The BNP and the Awami League said at least 250 of their members have been arrested since Friday.

Presidium member of Awami League Amir Hossain Amu said the arrests were "politically motivated."

"The Government has targeted our activists and district leaders throughout the country. They want to harass us to create an atmosphere of fear and panic," said BNP spokesman Rizvi Ahmed.

Both the parties say they will take part in talks to restore democracy only if their leaders were released.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police and intelligence agencies also arrested 369 people in the city in an anticrime crackdown.

Khan Sayeed Hassan, Commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said that four teams have been assigned in the city for round the clock operation to arrest criminals irrespective of their political affiliations or socio-economic influence.

BMP sources said it plans to arrest most of the 1,100 criminals wanted in different cases under Barisal Kotwali model police station.

In Rajshahi, eight suspected persons, including Chhatra League central vice-president Ahsanul Haque and Puthia thana Jubo League sports secretary Amirul Islam, were arrested by Joint Forces during the overnight drive.

The Joint Forces have arrested the Pattan Union Parishad chairman, a UP member and a passport office agent in Brahmanbaria Saturday night.

Sadar police chief Kamaluddin said the arrested had been sued under Emergency Power Rules.

In Chandpur the Joint Forces detained eight people on various charges, including land grabbing, extortion and carjacking.

At least 22 people, including two Jubo Dal leaders were arrested by Joint Forces on Saturday said, Magura Sadar police chief Sagir Hossain.

In Jhalakati, as part of the countrywide crackdown on suspects Joint Forces arrested four persons, including a UP chairman, in the district town Saturday night.

Sources said the Joint Forces raided the house of Keora Union Parishad chairman and local Awami League leader Moin Talukdar and arrested him at midnight.

They also raided the houses of JCD leaders Polash and Moshiur and BCL leader Peu and arrested them.

The arrested persons were handed over to Kotwali police station.

In Jhenidah, RAB members seized 7 bombs and a loaded pipe gun from a banana plantation in remote village of Shailkupa upazila, about 30km from the district town.

Police said RAB on secret information raided Hakimpur village in the afternoon and found the bombs and pipe gun hidden under the earth in the afternoon. None was arrested.

In Faridpur, 15 suspects, including leaders of various political parties and terrorists, were arrested during the overnight raids.

The arrested include district AL treasurer and Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee district president Mahbubur Rahman and his brother and Jubo League leader Liton Khan and two sons of labour leader Ismail Hossain Lavlu -- Sazzad Polin and Haider Lelin.

At least 30 suspected persons were arrested from nine upazilas of Bagerhat district since Saturday midnight. "Most of them are wanted in various cases," said Police Super AKM Shahidur Rahman.

In Comilla, Police recovered a rocket launcher, one gun and seven rounds of bullet from a house at Ghoshai Puskurani village in Sadar South Upazila early Sunday. Police said acting on secret information, they recovered the arms and ammunition from the rooftop of the house of Mostafa Member in abandoned condition at 3:30am.

In Narayanganj Bangladesh Hosiery Association president Badiuzzaman Bodu is among 34 persons arrested from different parts of the district early yesterday as nighttime clampdown on suspects in different districts continued.

Joint Force sources said they arrested Bodu and Monir Khan, uncle of "top-terror" Zakir Khan, from the association's community centre in

Salimullah Road in the town at 2:00am under the Special Powers Act.

The association was declaring its election results when the Joint Forces raided the center and made the arrests.

Badiuzzaman was arrested on charge of extortion and establishing supremacy over the area, while Monir Khan for assisting fugitive Zakir Khan. Of them, Badiuzzaman was sent to jail.

In Kishoreganj, some 59 persons, including two 'listed top terrors', were arrested by the Joint Forces from various places in the district during massive drives on Saturday night.

Joint forces also raided houses of a number of district leaders of Awami League and BNP and other listed terrorists on the night.

Sources said 'top terror' Abu Bakar, 33, accused in nine cases, was arrested from Kotiadi while Arafat alias Baro Miah, 25, from Bhairab

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, law enforcers arrested 548 in 24 hours.

The statement said: "Attacks on law-enforcement agencies, seizure of firearms from police personnel, violence in the garment industry, killings and extremist and other criminal activities spread in the country."

"Police launched a countrywide special drive on May 28 with directions to arrest criminals, seize illegal firearms in an effort to improve law and order and defuse panic among people," the statement added.