Staff Reporter :BNP’s International Affairs Secretary and the party’s current spokesman Dr Asaduzzaman Khan Ripon on Monday said that a fresh drive has been launched to arrest the leaders and activists of the party in different districts and upazilas ahead of BNP’s Councils at different levels and party’s reconstitution process.He alleged that the law enforcers are raiding the houses of leaders and workers of the BNP and its associate bodies in different districts to arrest them. “The government is yet to reverse its policy to suppress the opposition and different opinions. We condemn the government’s evil efforts to further shrink the opposition’s space for practicing politics,” he said. Dr Ripon demanded immediate release of the arrestees. He also called upon the government not to harass their leaders and workers. Police on Monday arrested 21 leaders and workers, including Borhanuddin upazila BNP Vice President Hasan Howlader, from Bhola. Former BNP MP Hafiz Ibrahim alleged that police arrested the BNP men following directive of local MP AJM Mukul in attempt to thwart BNP’s reconstitution process. Police, however, said that they arrested the BNP men, suspecting that they were involved in planning subversive activities. A Chittagong court on Monday sent 32 leaders and workers of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, including Chittagong North District BNP joint secretary Engineer Belayet Hossain and Sandwip upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Firoz, into jail in violence cases. A Sirajganj court also sent District BNP general secretary and suspended Municipal Mayor Advocate Mosaddek following his appearance before the court.Police on Sunday night arrested some leaders of the BNP from several parts of country. Jessore district unit BNP general secretary Saberul Haq Sabu, Kishoreganj BNP organising secretary Haji Israil Mia and Swechchhasebak Dal general secretary Shamim Ahmed are among the arrestees. Jamaat leader and vice chairman of Nabiganj Upazila Parishad of Habiganj Maulana Ashraf Ali was also arrested on Sunday night. A Habiganj court sent him into jail on Monday. Police said that they arrested the Jamaat leader for planning subversive activities.
