S.A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Most of the leaders of BNP-led 20-party Alliance in Sylhet have gone into hiding to evade arrest after police filed two separate cases accusing around 1500 leaders and activists. 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 Sylhet 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 Zindabazar area. The party insiders said most of the 20-party alliance leaders in Sylhet were not staying in their houses. Some of them have already left Sylhet to avoid being caught by the police.
While paying a visit yesterday to BNP’s city office at Amborkhana, 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 Zindabazar clash.In an attempt to contact the senior leaders of BNP,
Samsuzzaman Jaman member of Sylhet city BNP said party members in Sylhet 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,”
A total of 188 persons of 20-party alliance were accused in the two cases filed against them. The accused include Sylhet city BNP President Dr. Shahriar Hossain Chowdhury, its General Secretary Bodruzzaman Selim and Jamaat leader Ahsnul Mahbub Jubaer.
The SMP sources said that almost all the top brass of the BNP-led alliance in Sylhet 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 Dr. Shahriar Hossain Chowdhury 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 Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.
“Apart from Kotwali police, all other police stations of the SMP 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 Sylhet have gone into hiding to evade arrest after police filed two separate cases accusing around 1500 leaders and activists. 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 Sylhet 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 Zindabazar area. The party insiders said most of the 20-party alliance leaders in Sylhet were not staying in their houses. Some of them have already left Sylhet to avoid being caught by the police.
While paying a visit yesterday to BNP’s city office at Amborkhana, 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 Zindabazar clash.In an attempt to contact the senior leaders of BNP,
Samsuzzaman Jaman member of Sylhet city BNP said party members in Sylhet 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,”
A total of 188 persons of 20-party alliance were accused in the two cases filed against them. The accused include Sylhet city BNP President Dr. Shahriar Hossain Chowdhury, its General Secretary Bodruzzaman Selim and Jamaat leader Ahsnul Mahbub Jubaer.
The SMP sources said that almost all the top brass of the BNP-led alliance in Sylhet 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 Dr. Shahriar Hossain Chowdhury 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 Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.
“Apart from Kotwali police, all other police stations of the SMP 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.
