Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Monday issued a rule asking the government as to why the arrest process of four BNP leaders violating the directives of the apex court and abusing the power should not be declared illegal?
The court also wanted to know as to why departmental action should not be taken against the police officers involved in arresting the four BNP leaders on charge of violating the discipline?
The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by BNP Vice-Chairman Retired Major Hafizuddin Ahmed on March 29.
Fourteen respondents including Home Secretary, IGP, DMP Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Zone of DMP, Additional Commissioner of Detective Police of North Zone, Deputy Commissioner of Detective Police of South Zone and Additional Commissioner of Detective Police of Ramna Zone have to comply with the rule within four weeks.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed appeared in the court on behalf of the BNP leaders. Barrister Kayser Kamal, Barrister A K M Ehsanur Rahman and Barrister Mir Helal were also present in the court for the BNP leaders. Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju stood for the state.
Members of Detective Police arrested BNP Joint Secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal on February 24, Swechchasebak Dal President Shafiul Bari Babu on March 6, President of Dhaka City North Chhatra Dal S M Mizanur Rahman on March 8 and Vice-President of Dhaka City North Chhatra Dal Zakir Hossain Milon on March 6. They were arrested from various programmes arranged by their organizations. The police members were civil dressed during arresting them.
Police arrested former MP Moazzem Hossain Alal from Nayapaltan during observing black-flag programme arranged in protest of not giving permission for a rally to demand the release of party chief Khaleda Zia.
Babu and Mizan were arrested from Jatiya Press Club area on March 6 during a human chain programme. After two days Milon was arrested from a strike programme arranged in the same place.
Police took Milon for three days remand showing him arrested in a case filed with the Shahbagh Police Station. He died on March 12 in police custody. Police claimed that he died after getting sick.
After court’s order Barrister Moudud Ahmed said, Milon was brutally tortured then he died.
“Appellate Division passed a direction on how the law enforcers will arrest a man and how they will demand remand. It is mandatory for all law enforcers to follow. The verdict is very clear and far-reaching,” he said.
“But arresting process of these four leaders was totally violation of law and the judgement of the Supreme Court,” added the former Law Minister.
The court fixed August 1 next to hear the rule, he said.
