Those who were involved in violence and arson attacks across the country prior to and during the hartal and blockade enforced by BNP-Jamaat will be arrested after investigating each incident, and legal action will be taken, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said on Wednesday.
Claiming that a quarter with vested interests is involved in attempts to destabilise the country, the police chief said, “If anyone enforces any programme, people have the right to observe it. But people should also be able to commute on the road freely; it’s their right. So, we are going to take measures to ensure that people can move about freely,” he said.
The IGP came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting policemen injured during the BNP-police clashes on October 28, at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
He also said that there was no lack of security measures during BNP`s October 28 rally.
“We were able to bring the situation under control. Without any provocation, picketers set a bus on fire and carried out attack on another bus. They intentionally attacked people,” he said.
Police Constable Amirul Islam was killed in a brutal attack, allegedly by BNP activists, while on duty during the deadly violence at Naya Paltan and nearby areas on October 28.
Besides, 41 policemen were injured in clashes between law enforcers and BNP-Jamaat men in Dhaka’s Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas on that day.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police`s Deputy Commissioner (Media) Faruk Hossain said that 22 injured policemen are undergoing treatment at Rajarbagh Police Hospital and 19 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
When asked about the arrest of Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who identified himself as an “advisor to US President Joe Biden” and spoke to media at the BNP central office and Lt Gen (Retd) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy who brought Arefy to the BNP office, the police chief said, “We don`t want to disclose anything yet for the sake of investigation.”
Detectives arrested Sarwardy from Savar on Tuesday. Arefy was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday.
On Monday, Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who claimed to be an “adviser to US President Joe Biden,” at the DB office said that “Lt General (retired) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardi brought me to the BNP party office at 3 pm to discuss their programme. They requested me to deliver a speech.”
