A Correspondent :
Most of the leaders of BNP-led 20-party Alliance in Chittagong have gone into hiding to evade arrest after police filed two separate cases accusing around 600 leaders and activists over the Monday’s clash between the party men and the law enforcers at Kazir Dewry area in the city.
The clash left 50 persons injured including eight policemen.
The top brass of the BNP-led alliance were hardly seen on the streets amid the ongoing countrywide blockade programme for the arrest fear. Even they were not seen on the streets in Chittagong during the dawn-to-dusk hartal on January 6. BNP-led alliance called the shutdown protesting the police assault on January 5 rally held in the city’s Kazir Dewry area. The party insiders said most of the 20-party alliance leaders in Chittagong were not staying in their houses. Some of them have already left Chittagong to avoid being caught by the police.
While paying a visit yesterday to BNP’s city office at Nasiman Bhaban, this reporter found the office under lock and key and not a single leader and activist was found there.
The activists of the BNP cannot communicate with their senior leaders as their cell phones remained switched off soon after the Kazir Dewry clash.
In an attempt to contact the senior leaders of BNP, this reporter tried several times to reach Khasru and Shahadat over their cell phones but in vain.
“Amir Khasru is now outside Chittagong. He will return to his party colleagues within a very short time,” hoped Mohammad Selim, Personal Assistant of Khasru.
Mahbuber Rahman Shamim, member of BNP central executive committee said party members in Chittagong opted to retreat from protest programme for the time being due to some strategic reasons.
“We will wage movement and take to the streets again with renewed strength to topple the government,” assured Mahbuber.
A total of 388 persons of 20-party alliance were accused in the two cases filed against them. The accused include Chittagong city BNP President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, its General Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain, Vice-presidents Abu Sufian and Shamsul Alam, North District Convener Aslam Chowdhury, South District President Zafrul Islam Chowdhury and Jamaat leader Shahajahan Chowdhury.
The CMP sources said that almost all the top brass of the BNP-led alliance in Chittagong and other associate bodies of the organisations were accused in the case. Of the top leaders, police have so far arrested around 300 persons including Aslam Chowdhury and Enamul Haque from the spot soon after the clash while the rest are on the run.
“We are trying to nab the accused leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat. Many of the accused went into hiding,” said AKM Mohiuddin Selim, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.
“We conducted raids in different areas of the city for nabbing Khasru and Shahadat on Tuesday night. However, the duo were not found,” said the OC.
“Apart from Kotwali police, all other police stations of the CMP have intensified their drives to nab the accused leaders and activists who are now eluding arrest,” added the OC. “We gave conditional permission to the BNP-led alliance for holding the January 5 rally. The organisers promised us that they will not engage in any subversive activity in the name of the rally. However, they broke their promise and engaged in a clash with the law enforcers. So we are now left with the option of going for hardline,” said the police officer.
Most of the leaders of BNP-led 20-party Alliance in Chittagong have gone into hiding to evade arrest after police filed two separate cases accusing around 600 leaders and activists over the Monday’s clash between the party men and the law enforcers at Kazir Dewry area in the city.
The clash left 50 persons injured including eight policemen.
The top brass of the BNP-led alliance were hardly seen on the streets amid the ongoing countrywide blockade programme for the arrest fear. Even they were not seen on the streets in Chittagong during the dawn-to-dusk hartal on January 6. BNP-led alliance called the shutdown protesting the police assault on January 5 rally held in the city’s Kazir Dewry area. The party insiders said most of the 20-party alliance leaders in Chittagong were not staying in their houses. Some of them have already left Chittagong to avoid being caught by the police.
While paying a visit yesterday to BNP’s city office at Nasiman Bhaban, this reporter found the office under lock and key and not a single leader and activist was found there.
The activists of the BNP cannot communicate with their senior leaders as their cell phones remained switched off soon after the Kazir Dewry clash.
In an attempt to contact the senior leaders of BNP, this reporter tried several times to reach Khasru and Shahadat over their cell phones but in vain.
“Amir Khasru is now outside Chittagong. He will return to his party colleagues within a very short time,” hoped Mohammad Selim, Personal Assistant of Khasru.
Mahbuber Rahman Shamim, member of BNP central executive committee said party members in Chittagong opted to retreat from protest programme for the time being due to some strategic reasons.
“We will wage movement and take to the streets again with renewed strength to topple the government,” assured Mahbuber.
A total of 388 persons of 20-party alliance were accused in the two cases filed against them. The accused include Chittagong city BNP President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, its General Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain, Vice-presidents Abu Sufian and Shamsul Alam, North District Convener Aslam Chowdhury, South District President Zafrul Islam Chowdhury and Jamaat leader Shahajahan Chowdhury.
The CMP sources said that almost all the top brass of the BNP-led alliance in Chittagong and other associate bodies of the organisations were accused in the case. Of the top leaders, police have so far arrested around 300 persons including Aslam Chowdhury and Enamul Haque from the spot soon after the clash while the rest are on the run.
“We are trying to nab the accused leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat. Many of the accused went into hiding,” said AKM Mohiuddin Selim, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.
“We conducted raids in different areas of the city for nabbing Khasru and Shahadat on Tuesday night. However, the duo were not found,” said the OC.
“Apart from Kotwali police, all other police stations of the CMP have intensified their drives to nab the accused leaders and activists who are now eluding arrest,” added the OC. “We gave conditional permission to the BNP-led alliance for holding the January 5 rally. The organisers promised us that they will not engage in any subversive activity in the name of the rally. However, they broke their promise and engaged in a clash with the law enforcers. So we are now left with the option of going for hardline,” said the police officer.
